Florida Pharmacy Technician Certification Practice Test

What does a high-risk shelf label indicate about medications?

1. May have look alike and sound alike drugs

2. Have low quantities in-stock

3. Are about to expire

4. Stored in locations outside of the bays

The correct answer is: May have look alike and sound alike drugs

A high-risk shelf label indicates that the medications may have look-alike and sound-alike characteristics. This is significant because such similarities can lead to medication errors, where one medication is mistaken for another due to similar names or packaging. The label serves as a warning for pharmacy staff to exercise extra caution when selecting and dispensing these medications to ensure patient safety and prevent possible mix-ups. While medications with low quantities in stock, nearing expiration, or stored in unconventional locations are important inventory management considerations, these criteria are not indicated by the high-risk shelf label. Instead, the label specifically addresses the potential for errors arising from confusion between similar-looking or sounding medications, highlighting the need for vigilance in handling these products.