Essential Pharmacy Technician Questions For Interview Preparation

Q – 1 Common Pharmacy Abbreviations part 1:

Ans- q – EVERY
qH – EVERY HOUR

qAM – EVERY MORNING

qPM – EVERY EVENING

qHS – EVERY BEDTIME

qD – EVERY DAY

qOD – EVERY OTHER DAY

qWK – EVERY WEEK

qMO – EVERY MONTH

Q – 2 Common Pharmacy Abbreviations part 2:

Ans- q__H – EVERY___HOURS

BID – TWICE A DAY

TID – THREE A DAY

QID – FOUR A DAY

X_D – TIMES__DAYS

TDS – 3 TIMES A DAY

C – WITH

AC – BEFORE A MEAL

PC – AFTER A MEAL

HS – AT BEDTIME

Q – 3 Common Pharmacy Abbreviations part 3:

Ans- PRN – AS NEEDED

UD – AS DIRECTED

AA – OF EACH

QS – QUANTITY SUFFICIENT

GTT – DROP

TBSP – TABLESPOON

TSP – TEASPOON

OZ – OUNCE

GM – GRAM

KG – KILOGRAM

Q – 4 Common Pharmacy Abbreviations part 4:

Ans- LB – POUND

ML – MILLILITER

L – LITER

G – GALLON

OD – RIGHT EYE

OS – LEFT EYE

OU – BOTH EYES

AD – RIGHT EAR

AS – LEFT EAR

AU – BOTH EARS

Q – 5 Common Pharmacy Abbreviations part 5:

Ans- PO – BY MOUTH / ORAL

SL – SUB-LINGUAL

NG – NASO GASTRIC

BUCCAL – CHEEK/GUM

PR – RECTALLY

PV – VAGINALLY

SUPP – SUPPOSITORY

TAB – TABLET

CAP – CAPSULE

IM – INTRA MUSCULAR

SQ – SUB-CUTANEOUS

IV – INTRAVENOUS

IC – INTRA CARDIAC

INJ – INJECTION

STAT – IMMEDIATELY

Q – 6 Which types of anti-biotics inhibit growth and reproduction of bacteria, but do not kill bacteria?

A. Bactericidal
B. Anti-Bacterial
C. Hypo-Allergenic
D. Bacteriostatic

Ans- B. Anti-Bacterial

Q – 7 Dr. I Bawl has been practicing ophthalmology in Mukilteo, WA since 1984. If the first part of his DEA number is: AB745142_

What would the last digit be?

A. 7
B. 3
C. 0
D. 2

Ans- C. 0

Q – 8 Which of the following insulins has the slowest onset time?

A. Lente
B. UltraLente
C. NPH
D. Regular

Ans- C. NPH

Q – 9 After their shift, a pharmacist and pharmacy tech went next door to a cafe. They began gossiping about how many narcotics and anti-depressant prescriptions they had filled and even mentioned some customers names who received them. They were overheard by several cafe patrons, including one of the (mentioned) customer’s housekeeper. Besides their pharmacy’s code of ethics, which Federal Act was violated?

A. CSA
B. DACA
C. OBRA
D. HIPAA

Ans- B. DACA

Q – 10 In the NDC Number: 00615-6508-39

What do the last two numbers represent?

A. Package size
B. Manufacturer
C. Drug strength
D. Dosage form

Ans- B. Manufacturer

Q – 11 When a community pharmacy orders stock from a new wholesaler, which drugs must be ordered using a DEA form 222?

A. Sch. II only
B. Sch. II and Sch III only
C. Sch. II, Sch. III and Sch. IV only
D. ALL controlled substances

Ans- B. Sch. II and Sch III only

Q – 12 A pharmacist at an independent compounding pharmacy needs to concoct a batch of “LMAO”. The formula calls for:

Drug L – 0.1kilo
Drug M – 5600mg
Drug A – 0.5lb
Drug O – 100grams

After the batch is prepared it will be used to press 600mg tabs. How many whole tabs will be made?

A. 947
B. 721
C. 679
D. 552

Ans- B. 721

Q – 13 Which of the following routes of administration is not parenteral.

A. SQ
B. SL
C. IC
D. IV

Ans- B. SL

Q – 14 A script is faxed over from Dr. Bryant

which contains the sig:

1ml Neomycin Sulphate 0.5% 1-2gtt OU QID

Which of the following conditions is this order most likely to treat?

A. Urinary tract infection
B. Labyrinthitis (inner ear infection)
C. Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
D. Allergic rhinitis

Ans- A. Urinary tract infection

Q – 15 Given the name Accupril®(Quinapril), this drug is likely a:

A. ACE inhibitor
B. A2RB
C. Beta blocker
D. Anti-diabetic

Ans- B. A2RB

Q – 16 If 3 grams of active ingredient are needed to make 1 pint of a suspension, how much active ingredients is needed to make 1 gallon of the suspension?

A. 50 grams
B. 18 grams
C. 24 grams
D. 30 grams

Ans- B. 18 grams

Q – 17 A new customer at your retail pharmacy has brought in a script for:

Percocet® 2.5mg 1-2 tab Q4°. Which of the following information is NOT required on the patients packaging label.

A. Prescription number
B. Patients name
C. Filling pharmacists name
D. Prescribing doctors DEA number

Ans- B. Patients name

Q – 18 You are filling prescriptions at a retail pharmacy. A script is presented for Lopressor® 100mg QD X30D DAW. Your pharmacy is currently out of Lopressor®. Which of the following may the pharmacist substitute in its place to fill the order.

A. Toprol
B. Generic Metoprolol
C. Propranolol
D. None of the above

Ans- A. Toprol

Q – 19 Which of the following drugs is exempt from the locking cap requirements found in the PPPA?

A. Nitrostat® 0.4mg
B. Chantix® 0.5mg
C. Oxycontin® 20mg
D. Naproxen® 250mg

Ans- B. Chantix® 0.5mg

Q – 20 Which route of administration will give the highest blood concentration level in the shortest time.

A. Sub-Lingual
B. Transdermal Patch
C. Vaporizer
D. Intravenous

Ans- C. Vaporizer

Q – 21 A patient suffering severe pain is prescribed Vicodin® which contains 10mg of Hydrocodone and 660mg of APAP. The script reads:

Vicodin® HP
1 TAB QID PRN X10D

How many Grams of Hydrocodone will the be in this order?

A. .004
B. .040
C. .400
D. 4.00

Ans- C. .400

Q – 22 Which of the following would a patient be prescribed an albuterol Inhaler for?

A. Hypertension
B. Asthma
C. Smoking Cessation
D. Post Myocardial Infarction

Ans- B. Asthma

Q – 23 In a retail pharmacy setting, who may counsel a customer who has questions about a vaccine they are considering?

A. Licensed pharmacy technician
B. Licensed pharmacist
C. Pharmacy cashier
D. Both A and B

Ans- C. Pharmacy cashier

Q – 24 If a Tadalafil 10mg/tab has a typical half life of 17.5 hours, how long will it take until the blood concentration of this dosage falls to 25% of its initial strength?

A. 70 Hours
B. 52.5 Hours
C. 35 Hours
D. 17.5 Hours

Ans- C. 35 Hours

Q – 25 In a professional pharmacy setting, which agency regulates the majority of pharmacy technician activities and practices?

A. Food and Drug Administration
B. State Board Of Pharmacy
C. Drug Enforcement Agency
D. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board

Ans- C. Drug Enforcement Agency

Q – 26 Have you worked in this capacity in the past?

Ans- Technicians work in hospitals and health stores, pharmacies, nursing homes, etc. Work is part or full time, sometimes working irregular hours, weekends, evenings, etc.

Q – 27 Which are the responsibilities does a technician have which are not directly related to medication?

Ans- Technicians are also charged with administrative duties such as maintaining patient profiles, selling medicine and keeping an up-to-date inventory, answering phones, preparing insurance forms, etc.

Q – 28 Tell me about storage of drugs?

Ans- Storage is an important issue. Technicians are responsible for maintaining storage conditions, which ensure that drugs are always safe to use.

Q – 29 Which character traits does the job require?

Ans- Pharmacy technicians must be absolute experts at what they are doing, since there is no room for mistakes when preparing medications according to doctor’s orders. They must be professional, careful, and highly detail-oriented.

Q – 30 How a prescription is filled for a patient?

Ans- The process begins with receiving the prescription and understanding it correctly. Then the necessary ingredients are obtained and mixed accordingly in proper proportions and containers. Tags are also highly technical and require expertise. It is then given to the licensed pharmacist for inspection before being handed to the patient.