Essential Pharmacy Technician Interview Questions & Answers:

1. Common Pharmacy Abbreviations part 1:

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__° - EVERY___HOURS

2. Common Pharmacy Abbreviations part 2:

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

3. Common Pharmacy Abbreviations part 3:

PRN - AS NEEDED
UD - AS DIRECTED
AA - OF EACH
QS - QUANTITY SUFFICIENT
GTT - DROP
TBSP - TABLESPOON
TSP - TEASPOON
OZ - OUNCE
GM - GRAM
KG - KILOGRAM

4. Common Pharmacy Abbreviations part 4:

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

5. Common Pharmacy Abbreviations part 5:

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

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

B. Anti-Bacterial

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

C. 0

8. Which of the following insulins has the slowest onset time?
A. Lente
B. UltraLente
C. NPH
D. Regular

C. NPH

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

B. DACA

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

B. Manufacturer

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

B. Sch. II and Sch III only

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

B. 721

13. Which of the following routes of administration is not parenteral.
A. SQ
B. SL
C. IC
D. IV

B. SL

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

A. Urinary tract infection

15. Given the name Accupril®(Quinapril), this drug is likely a:
A. ACE inhibitor
B. A2RB
C. Beta blocker
D. Anti-diabetic

B. A2RB

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

B. 18 grams

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

B. Patients name

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

A. Toprol

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

B. Chantix® 0.5mg

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

C. Vaporizer

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

C. .400

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

B. Asthma

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

C. Pharmacy cashier

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

C. 35 Hours

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

C. Drug Enforcement Agency

26. Have you worked in this capacity in the past?

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

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

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.

28. Tell me about storage of drugs?

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

29. Which character traits does the job require?

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.

30. How a prescription is filled for a patient?

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.