Question

If a pharmacist asks a technician to repack bulk solid dosage forms into unit dose packs, what expiration date would appear on the label?

1) Use the original expiration date on the bulk package
2) Three months
3) Six months
4) 50

Answer 1

The expiration date on the unit dose packs should typically be the original expiration date from the bulk package, unless repackaging affects the medication's stability.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a pharmacist directs a technician to repack bulk solid dosage forms into unit dose packs, the expiration date that would appear on the label will depend on various factors such as the manufacturer's guidelines, the stability of the medication, and regulatory requirements. It is not standard practice to use a uniform expiration period such as three or six months without specific supporting stability data. Therefore, the most accurate and generally accepted practice is to use the original expiration date on the bulk package, provided that the repackaging process does not shorten the medication's shelf life. If the stability of the medication could be compromised by repackaging, a new expiration date might be determined based on stability testing.