PTCB PTCE Exam Questions

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21.

An inventory technician received a new drug in the order that read “Keep Warm” on its label. At what temperature should the new drug be stored?

  • 30°C to 40°C (86°F to 104°F)

  • 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F)

  • 8°C to 15°C (46°F to 59°F)

  • 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F)

Correct answer: 30°C to 40°C (86°F to 104°F)

A “Keep Warm” drug should be placed in a room that has a temperature range of 30°C to 40°C (86°F to 104°F).

A “Room Temperature” drug should be placed in a room that has a temperature range of 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). A “Keep Cool” drug should be placed in a room that has a temperature range of 8°C to 15°C (46°F to 59°F). A “Keep Cold” drug should be placed in a refrigerator that has a temperature range of 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F).

22.

All except which of the following information is required for repackaged medications?

  • Fill date

  • Drug manufacturer’s name

  • Drug’s strength

  • Beyond-use date

Correct answer: Fill date

The fill date is required for prescription labels and sterile product prescription labels, but it is not required for repackaged medications.

The following information is required for repackaged medications:

  • Drug’s name
  • Drug manufacturer’s name
  • Dosage form
  • Drug’s strength
  • Beyond-use date
  • Lot number

23.

Which of the following conditions causes a yeast infection of the skin and mucous membrane? 

  • Candidiasis

  • Tinea infections

  • Herpes 

  • Pneumonia 

Correct answer: Candidiasis 

Candidiasis is a type of fungus that causes various infections if there is an overgrowth in the body. Most notably, it causes oral thrush and vaginal yeast infections. 

Tinea infections are fungal conditions that mainly affect the feet and skin. Herpes is a viral infection that causes painful blisters of the skin. Pneumonia is a bacterial lung infection that causes inflammation in the airway, blocking it with thick mucous. 

24.

Alpha1 receptor antagonists are used to treat hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Which of the following medications is classified as an alpha1 receptor antagonist?

  • Tamsulosin

  • Clonidine

  • Triamterene

  • Bumetanide

Correct answer: Tamsulosin

Tamsulosin is classified as an alpha1 receptor antagonist. All of the generic names in the alpha1 receptor antagonist drug class end with the suffix "-osin."

Clonidine is classified as an alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonist. Triamterene is classified as a potassium-sparing diuretic. Bumetanide is classified as a loop diuretic.

25.

A physician ordered a sulfa drug for a patient who has a sulfa allergy. 

What type of medication error occurred?

  • Prescribing error

  • Deteriorated drug error

  • Monitoring error

  • Compliance error

Correct answer: Prescribing error

If a physician orders a sulfa drug for a patient who has a sulfa allergy, it is considered a prescribing error. A prescribing error occurs when a product is ordered or authorized by a physician with an incorrect drug selection or when the order is illegible and causes an error that reaches the patient.

A deteriorated drug error occurs when an expired medication or a physically or chemically compromised medication is administered. A monitoring error occurs when a medication is administered without reviewing laboratory data for its appropriateness or for the detection of issues. A compliance error occurs when there is an issue regarding a medication’s adherence.

26.

Uwe Wollschlager brings in the following prescription: 

Tussionex suspension 
Sig: Take 2 tsp PO q4h prn cough 
Disp: 12 oz 

Using Roman numerals, how many ounces of Tussionex suspension will you dispense to Uwe Wollschlager?

  • XII

  • VII

  • IIX

  • XIIIV

Correct answer: XII

The prescription informs you that only 12 ounces (oz) are to be dispensed. Therefore, you need to identify the Roman numeral for the number 12. “X” is the Roman numeral for 10, and “I” is the Roman numeral for 1. Thus, XII = 10 + 1 + 1 = 12.

“V” is the Roman numeral for 5, and you are only permitted to subtract one numeral; therefore, XIIIV cannot be the correct answer because 3 numerals are being subtracted.

27.

A patient brings the following prescription into the pharmacy:

Iopidine 
Sig: 2 gtt in each eye bid for 10 days

How many milliliters of Iopidine will be required to fill the patient’s prescription?

  • 4 mL

  • 1 mL

  • 1.5 mL

  • 5 mL

Correct answer: 4 mL

To solve this problem, start by identifying the total number of drops that the patient will use. The prescription’s signature reads 2 drops in each eye 2 times a day for 10 days.

Therefore, 2 drops × 2 eyes × 2 times × 10 days = 80 drops.

Keep in mind that 20 drops = 1 mL.

Therefore, if the prescription calls for 80 drops, use the following formula: 80 gtt × 1 mL/20 gtt = 80 gtt/20 gtt × 1 mL = 4 mL.

28.

Inhalers that include "Rinse mouth after use" on the auxiliary label contain which active ingredient?

  • Mometasone 

  • Ipratropium 

  • Tiotropium 

  • Albuterol

Correct answer: Mometasone 

The active ingredient mometasone, which is found in the inhaler Asmanex, is an inhaled corticosteroid and a potent anti-inflammatory. Corticosteroids suppress the immune system and allow for oral fungal infections to grow in the mouth. Therefore, it is important for patients to know when they start an inhaled corticosteroid or an inhaler that contains an ingredient similar to mometasone (i.e., fluticasone, budesonide) that they must rinse their mouths out after use. 

Ipratropium (Atrovent) and tiotropium (Spiriva) are inhaled anticholinergics and do not affect the immune system. Therefore, patients do not have to rinse their mouths out after use. 

Albuterol (Proair, Ventolin) is an inhaled beta agonist and is used to dilate the airway. This also does not affect the immune system and patients do not have to rinse their mouths after use. 

29.

If a patient does not want a child-resistant top on their medication, what does a technician need to do?

  • Have the patient state that they want non-child resistant top on the back of the prescription and obtain the patient's signature

  • Inform the patient that the law prohibits the use of non-child resistant tops

  • Provide the patient with a non-child resistant top that they can place on the prescription after leaving the pharmacy

  • Place a non-child resistant top on the prescription for the patient

Correct answer: Have the patient state that they want non-child resistant containers on the back of the prescription and obtain the patient's signature

A patient is allowed to have a non-child resistant top on their medication; however, the pharmacy needs proof that the patient requested this type of container. The best method for proving that the patient requested a non-child resistant container is to have the patient write and then sign on the back of the prescription that they have requested a non-resistant container.

The answer "Inform the patient that the law prohibits the use of non-child resistant tops" is incorrect because patients are allowed to have them. A patient should not be given a      non-child resistant top to place on the vial themselves, as this presents a liability issue for the pharmacy. The pharmacy should not place a non-child resistant top on the prescription for the patient without obtaining the patient's signed permission to do so.

30.

Tall man lettering is used as a safety strategy when two drug names look similar at first glance. Which option uses tall man lettering correctly for Dimenhydrinate and Diphenhydramine?

  • DimehyDRINATE – DiphenhydrAMINE

  • DIMEhydrinate – DIPHENhydramine

  • DimeHYDRInate – DiphenHYDRAmine

  • DimehydriNATE – DiphenhydraMINE

Correct answer: DimehyDRINATE – DiphenhydrAMINE

The option that uses tall man lettering correctly is DimehyDRINATE – DiphenhydrAMINE. Tall man lettering emphasizes the portion of the drug name that is different from the similar drug. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes tall man lettering for look-alike/sound-alike drugs.

The other options are incorrect because they are not how the FDA identifies tall man lettering for Dimenhydrinate and Diphenhydramine.

31.

If you are filling a prescription for a person whose insurance is under their name, which relationship holder code would you use when submitting the claim to the insurance for reimbursement?

  • 01

  • 00

  • 02

  • 03

Correct answer: 01

The 01 submitter code is used when submitting a claim for the actual cardholder.

The 02 submitter code is used when submitting a claim for a spouse. The 03 submitter code is used when submitting a claim for a dependent. The 00 submitter code is used when an insurance company does not require a submitter code to be submitted.

32.

Which of the following antifungal medications is used to treat fungal nail infections?

  • Terbinafine 

  • Nystatin (Nystop)

  • Ketoconazole (Nizoral)

  • Voriconazole (Vfend)

Correct answer: Terbinafine

Terbinafine is an antifungal used in the treatment of fungal nail infections. It comes in both tablet and cream form.

Nystatin (Nystop), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and voriconazole (Vfend) are antifungals but not indicated for nail infections.

33.

Sertraline 25 mg is the generic form of Zoloft® 25 mg. A patient has a prescription for Zoloft® 25 mg, and the prescriber did not indicate that a generic substitution was not allowed. However, the patient does not want the generic form, so you dispense the brand form. What DAW code should you use when transmitting this claim to the patient’s insurance?

  • DAW 2

  • DAW 1

  • DAW 7

  • DAW 8

Correct answer: DAW 2

A DAW 2 is used when the prescriber allows the generic form to be dispensed, but the patient requests the brand form to be dispensed.

A DAW 1 is used when the prescriber does not allow the generic form to be dispensed. A DAW 7 is used when the prescriber allows the generic form to be dispensed, but the law requires the brand form to be dispensed. A DAW 8 is used when the prescriber allows the generic form to be dispensed, but the generic form is not available on the market.

34.

When using a needle to remove the contents of a vial, a technician accidently touches the needle to the outside of the vial. What should the technician do?

  • Discard the needle and replace it with a new one

  • Wipe the needle with sterile 70% alcohol

  • Continue using the needle because the vial is sterile

  • Recap the needle once it is done being used

Correct answer: Discard the needle and replace it with a new one

Once a needle touches the outside of the vial or anything that it shouldn’t touch, it should be discarded and replaced.

A technician should never wipe a needle with sterile 70% alcohol, recap a needle, or continue using a needle once it has been contaminated.

35.

If you are filling a prescription for a child covered on their mother’s prescription insurance, which relationship holder code would you use when submitting the claim to the insurance for reimbursement?

  • 03

  • 00

  • 01

  • 02

Correct answer: 03

The 03 submitter code is used when submitting a claim for a dependent.

The 01 submitter code is used when submitting a claim for the actual cardholder. The 02 submitter code is used when submitting a claim for a spouse. The 00 submitter code is used when an insurance company does not require a submitter code to be submitted.

36.

Which of the following cardiovascular conditions is experienced when there is an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand causing pressure-like pain in the chest?

  • Angina pectoris 

  • Hypertension

  • Atrial fibrillation

  • Stroke 

Correct answer: Angina pectoris 

Angina pectoris is chest pain that is caused by an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand and is characterized by severe squeezing or pressure-like pain. 

Hypertension is when systolic pressure is greater than 140 mm Hg and diastolic pressure is greater than 90 mm Hg. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular, rapid heart rate that causes poor blood flow and can lead to blood clots. A stroke results from an interruption of oxygen supply to the brain caused by either a rupture or clot in the blood vessel. 

37.

A pharmacist continuously filled a patient’s morphine prescription 10 days early every month because the patient was out of medication. What type of medication error occurred?

  • Compliance error

  • Wrong administration-technique error

  • Deteriorated drug error

  • Monitoring error

Correct answer: Compliance error

If a pharmacist continuously filled a patient’s morphine prescription 10 days early every month, it would be considered a compliance error. A compliance error occurs when there is an issue regarding a medication’s adherence.

A wrong administration-technique error occurs when a medication is improperly administered. A deteriorated drug error occurs when an expired medication or a physically or chemically compromised medication is administered. A monitoring error occurs when a medication is administered without reviewing laboratory data for its appropriateness or for the detection of issues.

38.

You would apply the “For the Ear” auxiliary label on which of the following dosage forms?

  • Otic preparations

  • Ophthalmic preparations

  • Ointments

  • Suspensions

Correct answer: Otic preparations

The “For The Ear” auxiliary label would be applied when dispensing an otic preparation.

The “For the Eye” auxiliary label would be applied when dispensing an ophthalmic preparation. The “For Topical Use” auxiliary label would be applied when dispensing an ointment, cream, or lotion. The “Shake Well” auxiliary label would be applied when dispensing a suspension.

39.

Which of the following is not a proper way to dispose sharp containers?

  • Recycle trash bin

  • Supervised collection site

  • Mail back programs

  • Residential special waste pick-up service

Correct answer: Recycle trash bin

The FDA recommends that used needles and other sharps be immediately placed in FDA-cleared sharp disposal containers. Then, the sharp containers must be disposed according to community guidelines, which may include drop box or supervised collection sites, household hazardous waste sites, mail back programs, or residential special waste pick-up services. 

40.

Insulin aspart expires after how many days at room temperature?

  • 28 days

  • 3 days

  • 7 days

  • 30 days

Correct answer: 28 days

Insulin aspart expires after 28 days at room temperature. Once insulin’s rubber stopper is punctured, it is also only good for 28 days. 

All insulins should be refrigerated but not frozen.

The other choices are incorrect because insulin expires after 28 days at room temperature, not 3, 7, or 30 days.