Pharmacy Law Practice Exam

Which of the following should be considered non-sterile compounding?

1. IV solutions

2. Inhaled solutions

3. Orally administered tablets and solutions

4. Intrathecal injections

The correct answer is: Orally administered tablets and solutions

Non-sterile compounding refers to the preparation of medications that do not require a sterile environment to ensure that they are free from contamination. The correct choice indicates orally administered tablets and solutions, as these dosage forms are typically compounded in a non-sterile manner. Orally administered medications, such as tablets and solutions, are generally formulated to be taken by mouth and are subject to the body’s digestive processes, which are capable of handling non-sterile substances. Non-sterile compounding can involve mixing various ingredients, creating different formulations, and does not necessitate the stringent practices required for sterile compounding. Other choices involve preparations that require sterile conditions due to their routes of administration. For example, intravenous (IV) solutions and intrathecal injections must be compounded in sterile environments to prevent infection and other complications. Inhaled solutions also often require special consideration to ensure that they are free of contaminants, given their intended use in the lungs where any infection could have serious implications. Thus, these choices relate to sterile compounding practices, highlighting the distinction between the non-sterile processes involved in making oral medications versus the sterile processes required for injections and inhaled products.