PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (PTCE)Federal RequirementsMedium
A pharmacy intern is performing a controlled substance inventory. They note that the pharmacy has 100 tablets of alprazolam 0.5 mg (controlled substance schedule IV) in an unopened bottle and an estimated 45 tablets in an opened bottle. According to federal law, how should the inventory of the opened bottle of alprazolam be recorded?
- AAs an exact count, as all controlled substances require an exact count.
- BAs an exact count of 45 tablets.
- CAs an exact count only if the bottle originally contained more than 1,000 tablets.
- DAs an estimated count, as it is a Schedule IV drug.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. As an estimated count, as it is a Schedule IV drug.
Federal law requires an exact count for Schedule I and II controlled substances. For Schedule III, IV, and V substances, an estimated count is permissible unless the container holds more than 1,000 dosage units.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Only Schedule I and II drugs always require an exact count.
- B. An exact count is not federally required for Schedule IV in a container of this size.
- C. The threshold for exact count for CIII-CV is if the *container* holds more than 1,000 units, not if the *original* bottle contained more.
Controlled Substance Inventory Count
Federal regulations dictate specific counting methods for controlled substance inventories based on their schedule.
- Schedule I and II: Always require an exact count.
- Schedule III, IV, and V: May be estimated unless the container holds more than 1,000 dosage units.
- Biennial inventory is required at least every two years.
Memory trick: Count carefully: Schedule I/II exact, CIII-CV estimate unless over 1000.