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Math Matters: A Review of Calculations for Sterile Compounding

Target Audience: Pharmacist

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schedule 1.00 Contact Hours (0.10 CEUs)
category Compounding
local_activity Knowledge

Course Overview

Preparing a compounded sterile preparation requires successfully completing many steps. This course will provide an overview of fundamental pharmaceutical calculations and related concepts, including units of measurement, conversions, the ratio and proportion method, dimensional analysis, and expressions of concentrations. Displacement volume and flow rate calculations will be reviewed, as well as calculations related to drug dosing and reconstitution. Step-by-step example problems will be provided to aid the learner in understanding these concepts.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

  • Convert units of measurement
  • Recognize methods used to complete sterile compounding calculations
  • Perform calculations necessary to prepare compounded sterile preparations

Faculty

Authors & Activity Planners
Liz Fredrickson, PharmD, BCPS
View Bio +
Liz Fredrickson is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy. She serves as the Director of Instructional Labs and is course director for the Basic Pharmaceutics Lab and Parenteral Products and Parenteral Products Lab courses.

I. Introduction

II. Calculation Considerations

III. Systems of Measurement

1. The Metric System
2. The Apothecary System
3. The Avoirdupois System
4. The Household System

IV. Common Units of Measure

V. Converting Between Units

1. Common Conversions: Weight
2. Common Conversions: Volume

VI. Choose Your Own Adventure: Ratios and Proportion Method and Dimensional Analysis

1. Ratios and Proportions
2. Dimensional Analysis
3. Drug Dosing Calculations

VII. Drug Concentration Expressions

1. Concentration
2. Percent
3. Ratio Strength
4. Displacement Volume
5. Alligation Method
6. Flow Rate

VIII. Summary

From December 16, 2023 through December 16, 2026, participants must:

  1. Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
  2. Study the section entitled "educational activity"
  3. Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)

Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.

Faculty Planner Disclosure

The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Liz Fredrickson, PharmD, BCPS, and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo was an employee of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals until March 2022 and has no conflicts of interest or relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships relevant to this activity to report or disclose by any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.

Unlabeled Use Disclosure

The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.

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  • A connection to the internet

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.