PTCB Practice Test 1

This is the first of our 3 free PTCB practice tests. You will want to work through as many practice questions as possible before your exam. Our practice tests are interactive and include detailed explanations for each question. Start your pharmacy technician test prep now with our free online practice test!

PTCB Test Prep

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Question 1

What does the abbreviation NPO mean?

A
Nothing by mouth.
B
New patient only.
C
Nebulizer.
D
Every other day.
Question 1 Explanation: 
PO is “by mouth” and NPO is “nothing by mouth.”
Question 2

What is the brand name for eszopiclone?

A
Xanax
B
Ambien
C
Lunesta
D
Restoril
Question 2 Explanation: 
Lunesta (eszopiclone) is a hypnotic that is used to treat insomnia.
Question 3

Which of the following provides the Medicare prescription drug benefit?

A
Medicare Part A
B
Medicare Part C
C
Medicare Part D
D
Medicare Part B
Question 3 Explanation: 
Medicare Part D is a federal government program which subsidizes the costs of prescription drugs and drug insurance premiums for Medicare Recipients. This program was authorized by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.
Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a Schedule I narcotic?

A
Marijuana
B
OxyContin
C
Heroin
D
Ecstasy
Question 4 Explanation: 
OxyContin is a schedule II medication. There have been numerous proposals to remove marijuana from schedule I, but the government has declined to make this change.
Question 5

This is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid is overactive, and produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormones:

A
Graves' Disease
B
Cushing's Disease
C
Addison's Disease
D
HIV/AIDS
Question 5 Explanation: 
Graves' Disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
Question 6

If a physician writes an order for 400 mL of D5W to be infused over a 4-hour time period, and the IV drop factor is 12 gtt/mL, how many drops per minute should be delivered?

A
12 gtt
B
1.67 gtt
C
20 gtt
D
2 gtt
Question 6 Explanation: 
To solve this problem, you must first find the total number of minutes:
60 x 4 = 240
Then find mL/min:
400/240 = 1.67 ml infused in 1 minute.
Then multiply this by the drop factor:
1.67 x 12 = 20 drops per minute.
Question 7

If two drugs are taken together and one of them intensifies the action of the other, what type of drug interaction has occurred?

A
Antagonism
B
Potentiation
C
Additive Effect
D
Synergism
Question 7 Explanation: 
Antagonism is when two drugs work against each other. Synergism is when the effect of two drugs together is greater than the sum of their individual effects. Additive Effect is when the effect of two drugs together is equal to the sum of their individual effects.
Question 8

Which of these herbal medications can be used to treat anxiety?

A
Garlic
B
Milk Thistle
C
Kava
D
Acai
Question 8 Explanation: 
Kava is sedating and it is usually consumed in order to relax without disrupting mental clarity.
Question 9

A drug sells for $29.99 retail and has a wholesale cost of $19.74. The dispensing cost  is $3.20. What is the pharmacy's net profit?

A
$3.20
B
$7.05
C
$10.25
D
$29.99
Question 9 Explanation: 
Gross profit is selling price minus purchase price. For net profit you also need to subtract the dispensing cost as well.
Question 10

Which of the following medications is NOT used to treat high cholesterol?

A
Nexium
B
Zetia
C
Vytorin
D
Crestor
Question 10 Explanation: 
Nexium is used to treat GERD.
Question 11

What is the generic drug suffix for a proton pump inhibitor?

A
NAVIR
B
OLOL
C
AZEPAM
D
PRAZOLE
Question 11 Explanation: 
Generic proton pump inhibitors usually have the suffix “prazole”
Question 12

You are planning to prepare 600 mL of 20% dextrose solution, by mixing your 5% and 50% dextrose solution. How much of each solution will be needed?

A
200 mL of the 50% and 400 mL of the 5%
B
300 mL of the 50% and 300 mL of the 5%
C
300 mL of the 50% and 100 mL of the 5%
D
350 mL of the 50% and 250 mL of the 5%
Question 12 Explanation: 
This is an alligation problem, so you will put 50 in the upper left of your tic-tac-toe table, 5 in the lower left, and 20 in the middle. Subtracting across the middle you will put 15 in the upper right and 30 in the lower right. So you need 15 parts of the 50% and 30 parts of the 5%, for a total of 45 parts.

Amount of 50% needed will be:
(15/45) x 600 = 200

Amount of 5% needed will be:
(30/45) x 600 = 400
Question 13

The action of reducing a material to small particles is:

A
Comminution
B
Tumbling
C
Spatulation
D
Geometric dilution
Question 13 Explanation: 
There are 3 methods for comminution: trituration, pulverization by intervention, and levigation.
Question 14

What is DEA form 222 used for?

A
To order Schedule II medications.
B
To prescribe Schedule II medications.
C
To report the theft of controlled substances.
D
To document the destruction of controlled substances.
Question 14 Explanation: 
Form 222 is a triplicate order form for schedule 1 and 2 controlled substances. The purchaser submits copy 1 and 2 to the supplier and keeps copy 3 on file. When the order arrives, the number of packages received must be written on the form along with the date. This form is then kept on file for at least 2 years.
Question 15

Seventy-four degrees Fahrenheit is equal to what temperature in Celsius?

A
23.3
B
30.7
C
18.3
D
74.0
Question 15 Explanation: 
To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature and then divide by 1.8.
Question 16

This law defined two specific categories for medications: prescription and over-the-counter.

A
Durham-Humphrey Amendment
B
Kefauver Harris Amendment
C
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
D
Drug Listing Act of 1972
Question 16 Explanation: 
Until the Durham-Humphrey Amendment was passed, there was no requirement that any drug be labeled for sale by prescription only. The amendment defined prescription drugs as those unsafe for self-medication and which should therefore be used only under a doctor's supervision.
Question 17

The Red Book is a resource that focuses on:

A
drug pricing.
B
labeled and unlabeled uses of medications.
C
pharmacokinetics.
D
therapeutic equivalence evaluations.
Question 17 Explanation: 
The Red Book is the leading resource for information on drug pricing.
Question 18

A list of medications available for use within a health care system is called a:

A
Inventory Control List
B
Perpetual Inventory
C
Formulary
D
Pharmacy Benefit Program
Question 18 Explanation: 
The primary function of a prescription formulary is to specify particular medications that are approved to be prescribed under a particular insurance policy. Formularies are developed by evaluating the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of various drugs. With a closed formulary the insurance policy won't pay for drugs that are not on the list. An open formulary allows drugs that are not on the list, but will generally charge a higher co-pay for those drugs.
Question 19

Tall man letters are used for drugs which:

A
have look-alike names.
B
have more than one active form.
C
are on the DEA schedule I drug list.
D
have similar effects.
Question 19 Explanation: 
Several studies have shown that highlighting sections of drug names using tall man (mixed case) letters can help distinguish similar drug names, making them less prone to mix-ups. The tall man letters are used to help draw attention to the dissimilarities in drug names. For instance Celexa would be written as CeleXA to avoid confusion with CeleBREX. The Institute for Safe Medical Practices (ISMP), the FDA, and the Joint Commission promote the use of tall man letters as one method of reducing confusion between similar drug names.
Question 20

The pharmacy technician notices that a dosage may be typed wrong in the system. The reading says 0.1g but it should probably be 0.01g as 0.1 may be too large of a dose. What should the technician do in this case?

A
Go ahead and change the dosage.
B
Alert the pharmacist to verify.
C
Call and ask the physician if it is the correct dose.
D
Ask the patient.
Question 20 Explanation: 
They should alert the pharmacist. The other choices are beyond the scope of the pharmacy technician.
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