Final answer:
Pharmacists must assign a beyond-use date and preparation date for compounded sterile preparations to ensure safety and efficacy. The beyond-use date indicates when the medication should no longer be used, and the preparation date marks when it was compounded, following strict guidelines.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pharmacists should assign both a beyond-use date (BUD) and preparation date for compounded sterile preparations. The beyond-use date refers to the date after which a compounded preparation is not expected to retain its intended potency and quality. The preparation date is the date when the medication was compounded. Establishing these dates ensures that patients receive medications that are both effective and safe.
In setting a beyond-use date, pharmacists must consider factors such as the nature of the drug and its degradation mechanism, the container in which the drug is stored, the conditions under which the drug will be stored, and the intended duration of therapy.
A sterile compounding pharmacy operates under strict guidelines such as USP Chapter 797, which sets standards for the compounding of sterile preparations to ensure patient safety and improve the quality of compounded medications.