PTCB EXAM PREPARATION: 500 HIGH-YIELD
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND
DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. A pharmacy technician repacks bulk solid dosage forms into unit
dosed packages. What expiration date will appear on the package?
Correct answer: 50% of labeled expiration date to a maximum of 1
year
Explanation: USP guidelines state that for repackaged solid oral dosage
forms, the beyond-use date is the lesser of 50% of the remaining
manufacturer’s expiration or 1 year from repackaging.
2. The expiration date on a bottle of Cipro 500mg tablets states 4/09.
When does this drug expire?
Correct answer: midnight 4/30/09
Explanation: If only month/year is given, the expiration is the last day of
that month at midnight.
3. A physician prescribes Ceclor 375mg po bid. What is wrong with this
prescription?
Correct answer: the Rx lacks a duration of therapy
Explanation: “bid” gives frequency but not how long to take it (e.g., 10
days). Duration is required for a complete prescription.
4. Which dosage form is formulated to dissolve in the intestine rather
than the stomach?
,Correct answer: enteric-coated
Explanation: Enteric coating resists gastric acid and dissolves in the
higher pH of the small intestine.
5. What is the term for the process by which substances are taken up
and transported to the bloodstream?
Correct answer: absorption
Explanation: Absorption is the movement of a drug from its
administration site into systemic circulation.
6. A patient enters the pharmacy complaining of persistent heartburn.
The pharmacy technician should:
Correct answer: tell the patient to speak to the pharmacist
Explanation: Technicians cannot assess symptoms or recommend
treatments; the pharmacist must handle clinical questions.
7. Which of the following duties may a pharmacy technician not do?
Correct answer: accept a verbal medication order from a physician
Explanation: Verbal orders from prescribers must be taken by a
pharmacist (or allowed by state law only under supervision).
8. What is "room temperature"?
Correct answer: 15-30 degrees Centigrade
Explanation: USP defines controlled room temperature as 20-25°C, but
general room temperature is accepted as 15-30°C.
9. The process whereby a drug is transformed by the liver is referred
to as:
Correct answer: metabolism
Explanation: Biotransformation (metabolism) occurs primarily in the
liver via enzymes like CYP450.
,10. The directions for use for Timoptic is 2 gtts os bid. What is the
meaning of os?
Correct answer: left eye
Explanation: OS = oculus sinister (left eye). OD = right eye, OU = both
eyes.
11. What is the Latin abbreviation for "after meals"?
Correct answer: pc
Explanation: pc = post cibum (after meals). ac = before meals.
12. An order reads "Tylenol 325mg pr q 4 h prn". What dosage form
should be dispensed?
Correct answer: suppositories
Explanation: “pr” = per rectum, so suppositories or rectal solution.
13. The directions for use of a medication are "ii gtts au q 4 h x 5d".
What is au?
Correct answer: in both ears
Explanation: AU = auris utraque (both ears). AD = right ear, AS = left ear.
14. The dispensing label on an outpatient pharmacy prescription
requires:
Correct answer: legal name of pharmacy and address
Explanation: Federal law requires pharmacy name, address,
prescription number, patient name, drug name, strength, directions,
prescriber, and date.
15. The NDC on a medication bottle refers to the:
Correct answer: manufacturer, drug product, quantity packaged
Explanation: NDC = National Drug Code: first segment (manufacturer),
second (drug product), third (package size).
, 16. What dosage form is formulated to mask an objectionable taste of
a medication?
Correct answer: film-coated tablets
Explanation: Film coating hides bitter taste and improves swallowability.
17. What dosage form has the highest concentration of alcohol in its
formulation?
Correct answer: a tincture
Explanation: Tinctures are alcoholic extracts (typically 40-90% alcohol),
higher than elixirs (5-40%).
18. Which of the following is NOT required on a unit-dosed packaged
drug?
Correct answer: storage requirements
Explanation: Unit-dose packaging requires drug name, strength, lot #,
expiration date, but not always storage conditions.
19. Nonprescription drugs should not be included in the patient
profile.
Correct answer: false
Explanation: OTC drugs should be included to prevent interactions,
duplications, and contraindications.
20. Amoxicillin oral suspension is stable in a refrigerator for how many
days after reconstitution?
Correct answer: 14
Explanation: Most amoxicillin suspensions are stable for 14 days
refrigerated (some products 7-10 days; 14 is common).
21. Which drug is likely to cause a photosensitivity reaction?
Correct answer: tetracycline
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND
DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. A pharmacy technician repacks bulk solid dosage forms into unit
dosed packages. What expiration date will appear on the package?
Correct answer: 50% of labeled expiration date to a maximum of 1
year
Explanation: USP guidelines state that for repackaged solid oral dosage
forms, the beyond-use date is the lesser of 50% of the remaining
manufacturer’s expiration or 1 year from repackaging.
2. The expiration date on a bottle of Cipro 500mg tablets states 4/09.
When does this drug expire?
Correct answer: midnight 4/30/09
Explanation: If only month/year is given, the expiration is the last day of
that month at midnight.
3. A physician prescribes Ceclor 375mg po bid. What is wrong with this
prescription?
Correct answer: the Rx lacks a duration of therapy
Explanation: “bid” gives frequency but not how long to take it (e.g., 10
days). Duration is required for a complete prescription.
4. Which dosage form is formulated to dissolve in the intestine rather
than the stomach?
,Correct answer: enteric-coated
Explanation: Enteric coating resists gastric acid and dissolves in the
higher pH of the small intestine.
5. What is the term for the process by which substances are taken up
and transported to the bloodstream?
Correct answer: absorption
Explanation: Absorption is the movement of a drug from its
administration site into systemic circulation.
6. A patient enters the pharmacy complaining of persistent heartburn.
The pharmacy technician should:
Correct answer: tell the patient to speak to the pharmacist
Explanation: Technicians cannot assess symptoms or recommend
treatments; the pharmacist must handle clinical questions.
7. Which of the following duties may a pharmacy technician not do?
Correct answer: accept a verbal medication order from a physician
Explanation: Verbal orders from prescribers must be taken by a
pharmacist (or allowed by state law only under supervision).
8. What is "room temperature"?
Correct answer: 15-30 degrees Centigrade
Explanation: USP defines controlled room temperature as 20-25°C, but
general room temperature is accepted as 15-30°C.
9. The process whereby a drug is transformed by the liver is referred
to as:
Correct answer: metabolism
Explanation: Biotransformation (metabolism) occurs primarily in the
liver via enzymes like CYP450.
,10. The directions for use for Timoptic is 2 gtts os bid. What is the
meaning of os?
Correct answer: left eye
Explanation: OS = oculus sinister (left eye). OD = right eye, OU = both
eyes.
11. What is the Latin abbreviation for "after meals"?
Correct answer: pc
Explanation: pc = post cibum (after meals). ac = before meals.
12. An order reads "Tylenol 325mg pr q 4 h prn". What dosage form
should be dispensed?
Correct answer: suppositories
Explanation: “pr” = per rectum, so suppositories or rectal solution.
13. The directions for use of a medication are "ii gtts au q 4 h x 5d".
What is au?
Correct answer: in both ears
Explanation: AU = auris utraque (both ears). AD = right ear, AS = left ear.
14. The dispensing label on an outpatient pharmacy prescription
requires:
Correct answer: legal name of pharmacy and address
Explanation: Federal law requires pharmacy name, address,
prescription number, patient name, drug name, strength, directions,
prescriber, and date.
15. The NDC on a medication bottle refers to the:
Correct answer: manufacturer, drug product, quantity packaged
Explanation: NDC = National Drug Code: first segment (manufacturer),
second (drug product), third (package size).
, 16. What dosage form is formulated to mask an objectionable taste of
a medication?
Correct answer: film-coated tablets
Explanation: Film coating hides bitter taste and improves swallowability.
17. What dosage form has the highest concentration of alcohol in its
formulation?
Correct answer: a tincture
Explanation: Tinctures are alcoholic extracts (typically 40-90% alcohol),
higher than elixirs (5-40%).
18. Which of the following is NOT required on a unit-dosed packaged
drug?
Correct answer: storage requirements
Explanation: Unit-dose packaging requires drug name, strength, lot #,
expiration date, but not always storage conditions.
19. Nonprescription drugs should not be included in the patient
profile.
Correct answer: false
Explanation: OTC drugs should be included to prevent interactions,
duplications, and contraindications.
20. Amoxicillin oral suspension is stable in a refrigerator for how many
days after reconstitution?
Correct answer: 14
Explanation: Most amoxicillin suspensions are stable for 14 days
refrigerated (some products 7-10 days; 14 is common).
21. Which drug is likely to cause a photosensitivity reaction?
Correct answer: tetracycline
