HI-1017: Pharmacy Technician Module 10 Pharmacy Equipment
Slide 1 Main Objectives Types of Pharmacy Equipment
Slide 2 Types of Pharmacy Equipment The Four Step Process Class a Prescription Balance Weighing Containers and Spatulas Mortars and Pestles Ointment Slabs and Hot Plates Pill Counting Trays Volumetric Equipment Graduated Cylinders and Volumetric Flasks Pipets Syringes Droppers Oral Syringes What did we learn?
Slide 3 The Four Step Process In compounding prescriptions, there are certain types of equipment necessary to complete a four step process Measuring Balance, weights, weighing containers, volumetric glassware Mixing Beakers, Erlenmeyer flasks, spatulas, funnels, sieves, mortar and pestle
Slide 4 The Four Step Process (cont.) Molding Hot plates, suppository molds, capsule shells, ointment slabs Packaging Prescription bottles, capsule vials, suppository boxes, ointment jars, pill counting trays
Slide 5 Class A Prescription Balance Used to determine the weight of a powder, dosage form, liquid, etc. It uses internal and external weights The balance has a rider which adds the internal weights to the right hand pan; the rider is always calibrated in the metric system To calibrate is to set, mark, or check the graduations of a measuring device External weights must be stored in their box and handled with forceps to prevent erosion
Slide 6 Weighing Containers and Spatulas Weighing containers Weighing papers or weighing boats protect the balance pans from damage and provide an easy transfer of material Weighing papers are made of nonabsorbable glassine paper and weighing boats are made of polystyrene Spatulas Spatulas are used to transfer solid ingredients and to mix semisolid dosage forms They are available in a variety of sizes and made of stainless steel, hard rubber, or plastic
Slide 7 Mortars and Pestles Mortars and Pestles Made of three types of materials Glass, wedgwood, and porcelain Wedgwood and porcelain mortars are used to grind crystals and large particles into fine powders Glass mortars are preferable for mixing liquids and semisolid dosage forms
Slide 8 Ointment Slabs and Hot Plates Ointment slabs Made of porcelain or ground glass Often square or rectangular Hot plates Sometimes solids are mixed together by melting them in a beaker on a hot plate Must be a special low temperature (25 C to 120 C), this is not a standard laboratory hot plate
Slide 9 Pill Counting Trays Used to count out oral solid formulations, such as capsules and tablets
Slide 10 Volumetric Equipment Volumetric means measures volume Common volumetric vessels are Pipets, cylindrical and conical graduates, burets, syringes, and volumetric flasks Volumetric vessels are either TD (to deliver) Means the vessel must be completely emptied to dispense the needed volume TC (to contain) Means the vessel does not need to be completely emptied to dispense the needed volume
Slide 11 Graduated Cylinders and Volumetric Flasks Graduated cylinders Used for measuring and transferring liquids Preferred device because they are available in sizes ranging from 5 ml to 4,000 ml Volumetric flasks Have slender necks and wide bulb-like bases Hard to use if dissolving solids in liquid because of the narrowness of the neck
Slide 12 Pipets Pipets Thin glass tube recommended for the delivery of all volumes less than 5 ml and required for delivering volumes less than 1 ml There are two basic types of pipets The single volume or transfer pipet - Most accurate and easiest to use The calibrated pipet - Can deliver multiple volumes of liquid with good precision
Slide 13 Syringes Syringes Come in sizes from 0.5 ml to 60 ml There are three types Oral syringe - No needle can be attached Hypodermic syringe with Slip-Tip - Needle is attached by suction Hypodermic syringe with Luer-Lok - Needle is screwed on
Slide 14 Droppers Droppers Used to deliver small doses of liquid medication Personal factors contribute to the inaccuracy of droppers Drop sizes may be different because of variations in hand pressure, speed of dropping, and the angle at which the dropper is held
Slide 15 Oral Syringes Oral syringes Used to accurately administer liquid medication The tips are larger than hypodermic syringes Can be used with a device called an Adapt-a-Cap Screws onto the bottle containing liquid. When the bottle is inverted, liquid is withdrawn by pulling back on the plunger. When the required volume has been withdrawn, the bottle is righted, and the syringe is removed.
Slide 16 What did we learn? Pharmacy equipment A balance, spatulas, mortars and pestles, etc. Using a balance Class A balance, weights, weighing papers and boats, etc. Volumetric equipment Cylinders, flasks, pipets, syringes, etc. Liquid measuring equipment Oral syringes, droppers, etc.
Review Questions: 1. What are the four steps to compounding prescriptions? a. Measure b. Mix and mold c. Package d. All the above 2. What type of balance do pharmacies use? a. A digital scale b. Class A prescription balance c. A weighted scale d. A mechanical scale 3. To calibrate is to: a. Set, mark, or check graduations of a measuring device b. Weigh powder medications c. Check the sensitivity of the balance d. Grind powders to reduce particle size 4. What is used to grind crystals and large particles into fine powders? a. An electronic grinder b. A mixer c. A mortar and pestle d. An ointment slab and spatula 5. What protects the balance pans from damage and provides a convenient way to transfer weighed material from the balance? a. Aluminum foil squares b. Weight boats c. Weight papers d. B an C 6. (T or F) Volumetric means "to measure capacity". a. True b. False
7. Which item is a (TC) volumetric vessel? a. Droppers b. Syringes c. Graduated cylinders d. Single volume pipets 8. (T or F) There are three types of syringes; oral, Slip-Tip, and Luer-Lok. a. True b. False 9. (T or F) Hot plates in a pharmacy can be a standard laboratory hot plate that heat at 125C to 150C. a. True b. False 10. (T or F) Ointment slabs are used to measure out liquid medications. a. True b. False
Answer Key: 1. D Each individual compounded prescription can be viewed as a four step process: measure, mix, mold, and package. 2. B Most pharmacies have a Class A prescription balance. It is a 2 pan torsion type balance which uses both internal and external weights. 3. A To calibrate is to set, mark, or check the graduations of a measuring device. 4. C A mortar and pestle are used to grind crystals and large particles into fine powders. The process is called trituration. 5. D Weighing boats or weighing papers protect the pans from damage and also provide a convenient way to transfer the weighed material from the balance to another vessel. 6. B Volumetric means "measures volume". Common volumetric vessels are pipets, cylindrical and conical graduates, burets, syringes, and flasks. 7. C (TC) "to contain" which means the vessel does not need to be completely emptied to dispense the needed volume. 8. A All three types of syringes come in various sizes made of various materials and used for various purposes. 9. B The hot plate used in the pharmacy needs to be a special low temperature hot plate (25C to 120C). 10. B Ointment slabs have a hard nonabsorbable surface for mixing compounds and preparing ointments and creams.