PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (PTCE)Order Entry and ProcessingHard
A pharmacy technician is conducting a routine audit of dispensed prescriptions. Which of the following components is legally REQUIRED to be present on a prescription label for a non-controlled medication?
- AExpiration date of the medication
- BPrescriber's DEA number
- CPharmacy phone number
- DPatient's date of birth
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Expiration date of the medication
While many items are typically included on a prescription label, federal and most state regulations legally require the expiration date of the medication (or the beyond-use date for compounded products) to be present. This is crucial for patient safety and efficacy.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Incorrect. Prescriber's DEA number is legally required for *controlled substances*, not all non-controlled medications.
- C. Incorrect. Pharmacy phone number is generally included for patient contact but not universally a *legally required* label component.
- D. Incorrect. Patient's date of birth is good practice for identification but not universally a *legally required* label component.
Prescription Label Requirements (Federal/State)
Mandatory information that must be included on a dispensed prescription label to ensure patient safety, proper use, and legal compliance.
- Patient name and address.
- Pharmacy name and address.
- Prescription number.
- Date dispensed.
- Drug name, strength, dosage form.
- Directions for use (Sig).
Memory trick: Label's LEGALS: Patient, Pharmacy, Drug, Directions, Doctor, DATE.