PTCB 2025-2026 practice test

What class of medication is commonly used to treat hypertension?

A. Anticoagulant

B. Beta-blockers

C. Antibiotics

D. Antivirals

B. Beta blockers are used to manage hypertension by reducing heart rate and the force of heart contractions

Which medication is an example of a proton pump inhibitor?

A. Ranitidine

B. Omeprazole

C. Metformin

D. Ciprofloxacin

B. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that reduces stomach acid production

Under the controlled substances act, which schedule drug has the highest potential for abuse?

A. Schedule II

B. Schedule III

C. Schedule IV

D. Schedule V

A. Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse and may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence

Which of the following is a critical check before dispensing medication?

A. Checking the drug's color

B. Verifying patient's name and date of birth

C. Assessing the taste of the medication

D. Confirming the price of the drug

B. Verifying the patient's identity (name and date of birth) is crucial for safety.

What is the primary purpose of medication reconciliation?

A. To ensure that prices are accurate

B. To document the refusal of medication

C. To verify all medications are correctly prescribed and administered

D. To check the expiration dates of drugs on the shelf

C. Medication reconciliation ensures all medications are correctly prescribed, administered, and documented

The abbreviation "q.d" on a prescription stands for:

A. Four times a day

B. Once daily

C. Every other day

D. As needed

B. "q.d" is Latin for "quaque die," meaning once a day

Which type of drug is used to lower cholesterol?

A. Antipsychotic

B. Antipyretic

C. Statin

D. Antitussive

C. Statins are used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood

What is the primary concern when preparing IV admixtures?

A. Flavor

B. Cost

C. Sterility

D. Color

C. Ensuring sterility is crucial in the preparation of IV admixtures to prevent infections

How many milliliters of a 1% solution can be made from 5 grams of solute?

A. 500 ml

B. 50 ml

C. 5 ml

D. 1000 ml

A. 500 ml of solution is needed for 5 grams of solute to make a 1% solution (1 gram per 100 ml).

What is the primary objective of inventory management in a pharmacy?

A. Maximizing shelf space

B. Minimizing medication cost

C. Maintaining adequate stock levels

D. Displaying promotional items

C. The main goal is to maintain adequate stock levels to meet patient needs without overstocking

What is the key factor in choosing an excipient for a non-sterile compounded medication?

A. Taste

B. Solubility

C. Color

D. Cost

B. Solubility is crucial for ensuring the active ingredients are effectively absorbed

What is the primary purpose of the national drug code (NDC) on prescription drugs?

A. Tracking inventory

B. Identifying drugs uniquely

C. Promoting drugs

D. Regulating drugs

B. The NDC uniquely identifies all drugs marketed in the U.S.

Which federal agency regulates the sale of medications that have the potential for abuse?

a. FDA

B. DEA

C. FCC

D. USDA

B. The drug enforcement administration (DEA) regulates the sale of controlled substances

What is the role of a pharmacy technician in promoting patient safety?

A. Managing the pharmacy's budget

B. Ensuring accurate dispensing and labeling of medications

C. Marketing new mediations

D. Setting prices for medications

B. Pharmacy technicians ensure medications are accurately dispensed and labeled, crucial for patient safety

What information is essential when processing a prescription order?

A. Patient's favorite color

B. Time of day

C. Patient's medication allergies

D. Patient's income level

C. Knowing a patient's medication allergies is essential to avoid harmful reactions

Calculate the amount of dextrose in grams in 500 mL of D10W.

A. 5 grams

B. 50 grams

C. 10 grams

D. 100 grams

B. D10W means 10% dextrose, so 500 mL contains 50 grams of dextrose (10 grams

Which medication is NOT considered an anticoagulant?

A. Warfarin

B. Heparin

C. Ibuprofen

D. Enoxaparin

C. Ibuprofen is a nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), not an anticoagulant

Which route of medication administration is used for insulin delivery?

A. Oral

B. Subcutaneous

C. Intravenous

D. Topical

B: Insulin is typically administered subcutaneously

What is the primary use of albuterol?

A. Pain relief

B. Blood clot prevention

C. Asthma symptom control

D. Blood pressure reduction

C. Albuterol is primarily used to treat and prevent bronchospasm in people with asthma

It is unethical for a pharmacy technician to:

A. Maintain patient confidentiality

B. Accept gifts for pharmaceutical representatives

C. Provide patient counseling

D. Dispense prescribed mediations

B. Accepting gifts from pharmaceutical reps can lead to conflicts of interest and is generally considered unethical in pharmacy practice

Which is a common task for pharmacy technician in a community pharmacy setting?

A. Prescribing medications

B. Conducting health screenings

C. Managing prescription refills

D. Performing surgery

C. Managing prescription refills is a common responsibility of pharmacy technicians in community pharmacies

What is the role of a pharmacy technician in a hospital setting regarding medication distribution?

A. Deciding on patient medication plans

B. Preparing and delivering medications to nursing units

C. Performing medical procedures

D. Diagnosing patient conditions

B. Pharmacy technicians in hospitals often prepare and deliver medications to various hospital departments

Which of the following could potentially cause a serious interaction with warfarin?

A. Vitamin k

B. Vitamin c

C. Vitamin d

D. Vitamin e

A. Vitamin K can counteract the anticoagulant effects of warfarin, leading to potential clotting issues

How many mL of a 2% lidocaine solution contains 200 mg of lidocaine?

A. 10 mL

B. 5 mL

C. 20 mL

D. 100 mL

A. A 2% solution means 2 grams per 100 mL, or 200mg per 10 mL

What is the primary reason for compounding a medication for a patient?

A. To create a medication that is commercially unavailable

B. To increase the pharmacy's revenue

C. To make the medication taste worse

D. To comply with pharmaceutical advertising

A. Compounding is often necessary when a specific medication is needed that is not available commercially or needs to be customized for a patient's specific needs (e.g., allergies, pediatric dosages).