National Pharmacy Technician Training
Program - Updates
Page 6 - first column: Chapter numbers should be Chapter XIV, XV, XVI, XVII and XVIII.
Page 431 - Some material in this chapter is adopted from "Professional Pharmacy Technician Manual" and used with the permission of MRxI.
Page 436 - The letter "M" is missing under the heading "Mortars and Pestles"
Updates for The National Pharmacy Technician Training Program, 6th Edition
Corrections in the 6th Edition, first printing
1. Page 60 - there is a 'word wrap' error in the second table. The correct listings are:
- pc & hs = after meals and at bedtime
- PM = in the afternoon or evening
- prn - as needed
2. Page 69 - there is a correction to the answer key for Prescription #2, Flovent days supply. The answer is 20 days (not 30 days). 120 metered doses / 6 puffs per day = 20 days.
3. Page 85 - the correct answer for x in step two should be 1458 (not 458).
4. Page 85 - the correct answer for x in step two should be 1458 (not 458).
5. Page 91 - On the Dextrose calculation for the TPN (on the right side), the third step should be 100 mL NOT 1000 mL.
Prescription Labeling Changes
Effective January 1, 2009, labels for human drug products will need to include: a toll-free number for the reporting of adverse events and a statement that the number is to be used for reporting purposes only. This new requirement is often referred to as 'the side effects statement'. Technically, this provision became effective on January 1, 2008; though the final rule was not published until October 2008.
These requirements do not apply to over-the-counter drug products if the product packaging includes a manufacturer's or distributor's toll-free number for reporting complaints.
The final rule, published in the Federal Register, can be found here.
797 Requirements
June 1, 2008 marked the effective date for the new USPNF Chapter 797 that addresses sterile preparation of pharmaceutical compounds.
The completely revised chapter contains the following topics:
- Introduction and Organization of the Chapter
- CSP Microbial Contamination Risk Levels
- Develops and conducts examinations that evaluate the knowledge and skills associated with the performance of tasks required for professional practice as a pharmacy technician.
- Provides a means for recognizing pharmacy technicians who continue to demonstrate their qualifications by complying with ICPT continuing educat
- Single-Dose v. Multiple Dose Containers
- Hazardous Drugs as CSPs
- Radiopharmaceuticals as CSPs
- Allergen Extracts as CSPs
- Sterilization Methods
- Environmental Quality and Control
- Exposure of Critical Sites
- Placement of Primary Engineering Controls
- Additional Personnel Requirement
- Personnel Cleansing and Garbing
- Disinfectant and Cleaning
- Appendices
The revised chapter was available on the USP website during the period of review and comment. USPNF now has the 2008 Second Edition of the Pharmacist's Pharmacopeia and a Guidebook on USP General Chapter 797 available. Please check the USPNF website for more information and availability.
An excellent summary of the 797 Chapter changes has been prepared by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Key points are outlined in tables, bulleted lists and figures.
Learn More... (PDF)
If you have the first printing of the fifth edition of The National Pharmacy Technician Training Program, please make the following updates to your copy. If your copy is identified on the cover and title page as the “Second Printing” of the 5th Edition, these changes have already been made.
1. Chapter V page 10 – The final answer is correct. However, there is a calculation error in step two where 12x = 175,000; the correction is 12x = 17,500.
2. Chapter V, Page 13. For the flow rate calculation example, the minutes calculated for 6 hours should be 360 minutes. The answers, therefore, are 2.8 mL/min and 168 mL/hr.
3. Chapter V, Page 21, Self- Assessment Question 10b. The denominator should be “1000.” This will result in the answer of 2.5%.
4. Chapter V, Page 22, Self- Assessment Question 22. Response “a” should be 12 fluid oz. so that there will be only one correct answer.
5. Preparing for the ExCPT, ExCPT, Page 2, A new practice test was launched in January 2008 that does have a $25 fee. Free practice questions are included in each chapter of the National Pharmacy Technician Training Program.
If you have the second printing of the fifth edition of The National Pharmacy Technician Training Program, and your copy was received BEFORE September 15, 2007, please make the following updates to your copy.
1. Chapter IV Page 19 – Prescriptions should be for Ortho Novum and Bactrim DS. Please see replacement page
2. Chapter V Page 13 – the final answer is correct. However, there is a misprint in the explanation of the answer where 0.28ml is used instead of 2.8 ml.
3. Chapter V page 10 – The final answer is correct. However, there is a calculation error in step two where 12x = 175,000; the correction is 12x – 17,500.
4. Chapter XI Page 9 – The FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has draft guidance proposing the extension to 12 months. This guidance, anticipated to be final, is still in draft. It is unknown when the draft guidance will be final. Until then, the answer is 6 months.
5. Chapter XII Page 4 – this prescription should be for a Vancomycin small volume parenteral 1G in D5W 250ml. Sig: Over 2h q 12h x 10d
6. Chapter XII Page 5 – this prescription is incomplete. The full prescription is for: KCl 20 mEq in Dextrose 5% half NS 1L. Sig: 75 ml/h x 3d
In addition to these changes, the list of the Top 200 Medications has also been updated. The updated list is available on our homepage.