PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (PTCE)Federal RequirementsMedium
A pharmacy technician is reviewing a prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance that was written by a physician. Which of the following elements, if missing, would NOT automatically invalidate the prescription, provided it can be readily obtained from the prescriber?
- AQuantity prescribed (numerical and written)
- BDrug name, strength, and dosage form
- CPatient's full name and address
- DPatient's date of birth
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Patient's date of birth
While a patient's date of birth is important for proper patient identification and billing, it is not a federally mandated element that, if missing, would automatically invalidate a Schedule II prescription. Other critical elements like patient name, drug details, and quantity must be present or the prescription is invalid.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. These are essential elements required by federal law for a valid prescription.
- B. These are essential elements required by federal law for a valid prescription.
- C. These are essential elements required by federal law for a valid prescription.
Essential C-II Prescription Elements
Federal regulations specify mandatory information that must be present on a Schedule II controlled substance prescription for it to be valid.
- Prescriber's full name, address, and DEA registration number.
- Patient's full name and address.
- Drug name, strength, dosage form, quantity, and directions for use.
- Date issued and manual signature of the prescriber.
- Minor omissions can sometimes be added after consulting the prescriber, but critical elements cannot.
Memory trick: DEA's Prescription Rules: Patient, Drug, Doctor, Date, Signature.