Pass the PTCB CPhT PTCE Questions and answers with CertsForce

Insurance requires accurate “days supply” calculations.If a30-daysupply is incorrectly entered as a90-daysupply, the system will reject early refills.

????Reference:PTCE Pharmacy Billing and Reimbursement Guidelines.

Emulsionsaremixtures of two immiscible liquids (e.g., oil and water) stabilized by an emulsifying agent.

When an emulsion breaks (phase separation occurs), the oil and water separate permanently, rendering the medication unusable.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Tinctures?❌Alcohol-based solutions with dissolved drug, no phase separation occurs.

B. Solutions?❌Homogeneous mixtures that do NOT separate.

C. Suspensions?❌May settle over time but can be re-mixed by shaking.

????Reference:USP <795> Compounded Dosage Forms, PTCE Compounding Guidelines.

Cleaning counting trays removes medication residue to prevent cross-contamination, especially with penicillin or sulfa drugs.

????Reference:ISMP Pharmacy Cleaning and Contamination Prevention Guidelines.

Risedronate (Actonel)is abisphosphonateused to treat osteoporosis.

Bisphosphonates can causesevere esophagitis and esophageal ulcersif not taken properly.

Patients must take the medication witha full glass of waterand remainupright for at least 30 minutesafter administration to reduce esophageal irritation.

Other medications in the options:

Ropinirole: A dopamine agonist for Parkinson’s disease; no such requirement.

Repaglinide: A meglitinide for diabetes; no such requirement.

Rifampin: An antibiotic for tuberculosis; no such requirement.

????Reference:PTCE study materials; drug administration guidelines forbisphosphonates.

Risperdal Consta (risperidone long-acting injection) is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is supplied as a powder that must be reconstituted with a diluent before administration as an intramuscular (IM) injection.

According to the manufacturer’s storage guidelines:

Refrigeration Requirement:Risperdal Consta should be stored in a refrigerator (36°F to 46°F or 2°C to 8°C) to maintain stability.

Room Temperature Stability:If removed from refrigeration, Risperdal Consta can remain stable at room temperature (≤77°F or 25°C)for up to 14 days. After this period, the product should not be used if it has not been administered.

This stability information is critical for pharmacy technicians handling the medication, as it ensures proper storage and prevents medication degradation, which can affect efficacy and safety.

Risperdal Consta (Janssen Pharmaceuticals) Prescribing Information– Official manufacturer guidelines.

PTCB PTCE Exam Content Outline – Medication Storage and Stability– Covers best practices for proper drug storage and handling.

United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Standards– Guidelines on temperature control for pharmaceutical products.

Pharmacy Technician References:This information is essential for pharmacy technicians preparing Risperdal Consta for dispensing or administration, ensuring compliance with manufacturer and regulatory guidelines.

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

Mycophenolateis animmunosuppressantused inorgan transplantsand isteratogenic (causes birth defects).It requiresRisk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS).

????Explanation of Answer Choices:✅B. Mycophenolate→Correct.High risk ofbirth defects, requiring REMS.❌A. Miconazole→ Incorrect.An antifungal with no REMS requirement.❌C. Phentermine→ Incorrect.Used for weight loss, not teratogenic.❌D. Phenytoin→ Incorrect.Has risks but no REMS requirement.

????Reference:

FDA REMS Program for Mycophenolate

PTCB Exam: Medication Safety & REMS

Needlegauge (G)refers to thediameter of the needle’s lumen(opening).The higher the gauge number, the smaller the needle diameter.

Lower gauge (e.g., 13G, 18G)→Larger needle(wider opening)

Higher gauge (e.g., 27G)→Smaller needle(narrower opening)

Common Needle Gauges and Their Uses:Gauge (G)

Needle Diameter (mm)

Common Use

13G

2.4 mm

IV drug administration (large-bore)

18G

1.2 mm

Drawing thick medications (e.g., oil-based injections)

20G

0.9 mm

General intramuscular (IM) injections

27G

0.4 mm

Subcutaneous (SC) or intradermal (ID) injections (e.g., insulin, vaccines)

Since27Gis the highest gauge listed, it corresponds to thesmallestneedle diameter, making it the correct answer.

A. 13G❌→ One of the largest gauges, used for IV fluids or blood transfusions.

B. 18G❌→ Large needle used for thick medications likedepot injections or contrast agents.

C. 20G❌→ Common forintramuscular injectionsbut larger than 27G.

PTCB PTCE Exam Content Outline– Covers needle gauges, injection routes, and proper medication administration.

USP <797> & USP <800>– Provide sterile compounding guidelines, including appropriate needle gauge selection.

CDC Vaccine Administration Guidelines– Recommend25-30Gfor subcutaneous and intradermal injections.

Why Not the Other Options?Key References:

Amlodipine(10 mg) anddiltiazem(30 mg) are bothcalcium channel blockers (CCBs)used to treat hypertension and angina.

When a patient is prescribed two medications from the same therapeutic class, the pharmacy's prescription processing system may flag this as"therapeutic duplication."

This alert is meant toprevent potential adverse effectssuch as excessive lowering of blood pressure or heart rate.

A. Prior authorization required→ Not applicable unless the insurance requires special approval before covering the drug.

C. NDC not covered→ Would appear if the specific drug product (based on its National Drug Code) is not covered by insurance, but this scenario relates to duplication, not coverage.

D. Refill too soon→ This applies to refilling a medication before the allowed time frame, but the scenario describes a new prescription.

PTCB PTCE Exam Content Outline – Drug Interactions and Therapeutic Duplication

Lexicomp and Micromedex Drug Databases– Reference sources for drug classifications.

ISMP Guidelines on Preventing Therapeutic Duplication Errors

Why Other Answers Are Incorrect?Pharmacy Technician References:

In pharmacy practice and per USP/FDA conventions, when a manufacturer’s expiration date is expressed only as a month and year (e.g., “EXP 03/2026”), the product remains usable through the last day of that month. This standard is applied for product beyond-use and stock management, ensuring consistent interpretation across labeling and inventory control.

In standard prescription sig abbreviations, “SL” means sublingual, indicating the route of administration (placing the medication under the tongue). It does not refer to package size, strength, or a disease state.

References (Pharmacy Technician documents / Study Guides):

• Common prescription abbreviations/sig codes used in pharmacy practice (e.g., SL = sublingual).

• PTCB/ExCPT study guides: interpretation of prescription directions and routes of administration.