Free PTCB PTCE Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 5

AUstands for"auris utraque", meaning"both ears".✅

Sig codes (Signa codes)are abbreviations used in prescriptions to indicate how a medication should be taken or applied.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

q.s. (quantum satis):Means "a sufficient quantity," NOT"shake well."❌

IN:Refers tointranasal, NOTintramuscular (IM).❌

q.i.d. (quater in die):Means"four times a day,"NOT"three times a day".❌

????Reference:PTCB Official Sig Code List,Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Approved Abbreviations.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)is anherbal supplementcommonly used formild to moderate depression.

Containshypericin and hyperforin, which may increaseserotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrinelevels.

Often used as analternative treatment for depression, but not FDA-approved for this indication.

Hasserious drug interactions, including withantidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs), warfarin, oral contraceptives, and cyclosporine.

(A) Immune enhancer❌Incorrect – Not primarily used to boost the immune system.

(B) Mild antidepressant✅Correct – Used for mild depression.

(C) Antioxidant❌Incorrect – While it has some antioxidant properties, this is not its primary use.

(D) Antihypertensive❌Incorrect – It does not lower blood pressure.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) – St. John’s Wort:https://www.nccih.nih.gov/

MedlinePlus – St. John's Wort Drug Interactions:https://medlineplus.gov

PTCB Exam Content Outline – Herbal Supplements & Drug Interactions

How St. John’s Wort Works:Analysis of Answer Choices:References for Pharmacy Technicians:

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent infection.Washing hands withsoap and water for at least 30 secondsremoves bacteria, viruses, and contaminants.

????Explanation of Answer Choices:✅D. Wash hands for 30 seconds→Correct.Best method toreduce the spread of infection.❌A. Wear powdered latex gloves→ Incorrect.Powdered gloves can increase contamination risk.❌B. Clean counting trays after use→ Incorrect.Important, but handwashing is more effective.❌C. Put on shoe covers→ Incorrect.Useful in sterile environments, but not as effective as handwashing.

????Reference:

CDC Hand Hygiene Guidelines

USP <797>: Infection Control in Pharmacies

Breaking Down the SIG Code:"Sig: 1 tab PO q.i.d. p.c. & h.s."

Abbreviation

Meaning

1 tab

Take one tablet

PO

By mouth (oral route)

q.i.d.

Four times daily

p.c.

After meals (post cibum)

h.s.

At bedtime (hora somni)

"Take one tablet by mouth four times daily after meals and at bedtime."✅

(A) Take one tablet by mouth five times daily with meals and at bedtime.❌Incorrect – "q.i.d." means four times daily, not five.

(B) Take one tablet by mouth four times daily without meals and at bedtime with a snack.❌Incorrect – "p.c." meansafter meals, not without meals.

(C) Take one tablet by mouth four times daily before meals and at bedtime.❌Incorrect – "p.c." meansafter meals, not before.

(D) Take one tablet by mouth four times daily after meals and at bedtime.✅Correct – Matches the SIG interpretation.

ISMP List of Common SIG Codes and Abbreviations:https://www.ismp.org

PTCB Exam Content Outline – Prescription Interpretation & SIG Code Reading

Putting It Together:Analysis of Answer Choices:References for Pharmacy Technicians:

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

Root-Cause Analysis (RCA)is asystematic approachused toidentify the underlying causes of medication errors. RCA focuses onsystems and processes, not individual blame.

????Explanation of Answer Choices:✅B. Focusing primarily on systems and processes rather than individual performance→Correct.RCA aims toprevent future errors by improving systems.❌A. Termination of employment→ Incorrect.Blaming individuals does not address system failures.❌C. Immediate reporting to the state board→ Incorrect.RCA is an internal investigation process.❌D. Criminal charges→ Incorrect.RCA focuses on improvement, not legal punishment.

????Reference:

ISMP Guidelines on Root-Cause Analysis

PTCB Medication Safety Principles

Phenobarbital is abarbiturateused forseizure control, sedation, and epilepsy management. It is commercially available in both:

Oral tablet form(commonly used for long-term seizure control).

Injectable solution form(used in hospital settings for status epilepticus and acute seizure episodes).

B. Paroxetine❌→Available only as oral tablets and oral suspension.

C. Pioglitazone❌→Available only as oral tablets (for diabetes management).

D. Pramipexole❌→Available only as oral tablets (for Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome).

FDA Drug Labeling Database– ListsPhenobarbital as available in oral and injection forms.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Drug Database– Confirmsinjectable and oral availability of Phenobarbital.

PTCB PTCE Exam Content Outline– Covers medication dosage forms and routes of administration.

Why Not the Other Options?Key References:

Enteric-coated (EC) tabletsare designed todelay drug release until they reach the intestine, preventing stomach irritation and degradation by gastric acid. The coatingresists stomach acidbut dissolves in thehigher pH environment of the intestines.

Aspirin EC(prevents stomach irritation)

Pantoprazole EC(proton pump inhibitor)

Diclofenac EC(NSAID)

A. Buffered→ Incorrect; buffered formulationsneutralize stomach acidbut do not delay release until the intestines.

C. Controlled release→ Incorrect; controlled-release formulationsgradually release medicationover time but are not specifically designed tobypass the stomach.

D. Buccal→ Incorrect; buccal tablets dissolve in thecheek mucosa, bypassing the digestive system entirely.

Examples of Enteric-Coated Medications:Other Answer Choices Explained:References:

FDA Drug Formulation Guidelines

USP <795> Drug Release & Absorption Standards

PTCB PTCE Exam Content Outline (Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms & Drug Release Mechanisms)

When adrug recalloccurs due totemperature excursions(exposure to temperatures outside the manufacturer’s recommended range during transport or storage), the pharmacy mustimmediately remove all affected productfrom its inventory to prevent dispensing compromised medication.

Remove the Affected Product:Quarantine the recalled drug to ensure it is not dispensed.

Verify the Recall Details:Confirm the lot number, expiration date, and reason for the recall using FDA or manufacturer recall notices.

Document the Recall Action:Log details in the pharmacy's recall records for compliance.

Follow Manufacturer or FDA Instructions:Some recalls require returning the product, while others require disposal according to hazardous waste guidelines.

Notify Patients and Providers (If Necessary):If the medication has already been dispensed, further action may be needed depending on recall severity.

B. Contact patients who received a therapeutically equivalent product.→ Incorrect. The recall applies to thespecificaffected lot, not all similar medications. Pharmacists would first verify which patients received the recalled drugbefore contacting them.

C. Switch patients from the oral solution to oral capsules.→ Incorrect. The recall does not automatically require a formulation change. The pharmacy must verify availability of unaffected stock or alternative treatments before making substitutions.

D. Contact all prescribers who recently prescribed the product.→ Incorrect. While prescribersmayneed notification if the recall affects patient treatment, thefirst stepis ensuring the recalled product is removed from stock to prevent further dispensing.

PTCB PTCE Exam Content Outline – Medication Safety and Recall Procedures.

FDA Drug Recall Guidelines (www.fda.gov).

USP <1079> Good Storage and Distribution Practices for Pharmaceuticals.

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Recall Compliance Standards.

Manufacturer Recall Notices (Example: Pfizer, Eli Lilly, etc.).

Mosby’s Pharmacy Technician: Principles and Practice – Recall Classifications and Actions.

Steps to Follow in a Drug Recall:Why the Other Answer Choices Are Incorrect:Pharmacy Technician References:

Look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medications pose asignificant risk of medication errors. To reduce this risk, pharmacies should:

Use both brand and generic nameson labels to clarify drug identity.

Example:"Celexa (Citalopram)" vs. "Celebrex (Celecoxib)."

B. Place the drug next to another look-alike/sound-alike drug on the shelf if they are alphabetical.❌→Incorrect

LASA drugs shouldnotbe stored next to each other.

Example:Hydroxyzine and Hydralazine should be stored separatelyto avoid mix-ups.

C. Review the first five digits of the NDC to confirm the correct product.❌→Incorrect

The first five digits (manufacturer code) only identify the manufacturer, not the specific drug.

Instead, checking theentire NDC (all 10-11 digits) is necessary.

D. Take hazardous drug precautions.❌→Incorrect

LASA errors are a labeling issue, not a hazardous drug issue.

Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) LASA Guidelines– Recommends usingboth brand and generic names on labels.

FDA & Joint Commission LASA Drug Safety Recommendations– Emphasizes labeling improvements for LASA drugs.

PTCB PTCE Exam Content Outline– Covers medication safety and error prevention strategies.

Why Not the Other Options?Key References:

????Reference:USP <797> Sterile Compounding Guidelines.