Drug Storage, Stability, and Inventory Management
What the exam tests
This domain covers temperature ranges, light and moisture protection, cold chain, stock rotation, expiry control, recalls, and controlled-drug inventory. Questions often test what to do when storage fails or stock is short-dated.
Core rules
- Common storage definitions: room temperature about 15–25 °C; cool 8–15 °C; cold 2–8 °C; freezer below 0 °C, with product-specific ranges taking priority. “Protect from light” means the original container or an opaque cover.
- Refrigerated medicines must not touch the freezer compartment or freeze unless labelled for freezing. Use a calibrated thermometer and log temperatures.
- Inventory uses FEFO (first expiry, first out), not merely FIFO. Short-dated stock is flagged and rotated; expired stock is segregated and removed from sale.
- Recalls are actioned promptly: identify affected batches, quarantine, notify the pharmacist, and document patient-level action if required.
- Controlled drugs need reconciliation, secure storage, and witnessed disposal according to national rules.
Worked example
A refrigerator log shows 1 °C overnight for a stock of insulin. Insulin is not usually frozen at 1 °C, but it is below the labelled 2–8 °C range. Do not silently return it to stock. Quarantine it, check the product label and manufacturer stability data, record the excursion, and ask the pharmacist to decide whether it may be used. Review the cause, such as a faulty thermostat or door left open.
Traps that cost marks
Storing insulin in the freezer; placing stock on the refrigerator door; relying on memory instead of temperature logs; using FIFO when expiry dates demand FEFO; and returning recalled stock to the shelf after a quick check.