What Is Non-Sterile Compounding
Non-sterile compounding involves preparing medications that do not need to be sterile, such as ointments, creams, capsules, troches, and oral suspensions. These preparations are customized for individual patients when commercially available products do not meet their needs.
Why Compounding Is Needed
Compounding addresses situations where a patient needs a dosage form, strength, or combination not commercially available. Examples include preparing a liquid formulation for a patient who cannot swallow tablets, creating a medication without a specific allergen, or combining ingredients into a single preparation for convenience.
Equipment and Supplies
Common non-sterile compounding equipment includes:
- Mortars and pestles for grinding and mixing
- Graduated cylinders and beakers for measuring liquids
- Electronic balances for weighing ingredients
- Ointment slabs and spatulas for mixing creams and ointments
- Capsule-filling equipment for making capsules
Key Principles
- Follow the master formulation record for each preparation
- Weigh and measure all ingredients accurately
- Document the compounding process, including lot numbers and expiration dates of ingredients
- Apply proper labeling including the assigned expiration or use-by information
- Maintain a clean workspace
Quality Control
Compounded preparations should be visually inspected for proper appearance, consistency, and absence of visible contamination. Weight or volume checks help verify accuracy. Proper documentation creates a record that can be reviewed if questions arise about a specific preparation.
PTCE Relevance
Expect questions about compounding equipment, the general process, documentation requirements, and why compounding is performed. Understanding the basic concepts is sufficient for the exam.