75. A pharmacy receives the following prescription Acetaminophen/codeine 300 mg/30 mg Sig 1-2 tabs q 6 hours p.r.n. pain Dispense #60 sixty tabs No refills George Watson MD DEA#BB2345672. The pharmacy technician determines that the prescriber must be contacted for clarification before the prescription can be filled because the:
Answer: D
The second alphabet character of the DEA number should be the first initial of the prescriber's last name.
In this case, the pharmacy technician needs clarification because the second alphabet character of the DEA number should correspond to the first initial of the prescriber's last name, and there may be an issue with this alignment.
A) First alphabet character of the DEA number should be the first initial of the prescriber's first name
This option is incorrect. The first alphabet character of the DEA number actually represents the registrant type and does not correspond to the first initial of the prescriber's first name.
B) First alphabet character of the DEA number should be the first initial of the prescriber's last name
This option is also incorrect. The first alphabet character of the DEA number does not represent the initial of the prescriber's last name but rather indicates the type of registrant, such as a physician.
C) Second alphabet character of the DEA number should be the first initial of the prescriber's first name
This option is incorrect. The second alphabet character of the DEA number is meant to represent the first initial of the prescriber's last name, not the first name.
D) Second alphabet character of the DEA number should be the first initial of the prescriber's last name
This option is correct. The second character in the DEA number is specifically designated to reflect the first initial of the prescriber's last name, which is a crucial aspect for verifying the legitimacy of the prescription.
Conclusion
The correct answer is D because it accurately describes the requirement for the second character of the DEA number, which must be the initial of the prescriber's last name. Options A, B, and C misinterpret the structure of the DEA number, highlighting the need for the pharmacy technician to confirm details with the prescriber to ensure compliance and accuracy in prescription filling.