Automated dispensing of drugs MCQs With Answer

Automated dispensing of drugs integrates pharmacy automation, ADCs and robotics to improve medication safety, inventory control and workflow efficiency in hospitals and community settings. For B.Pharm students, understanding automated dispensing systems, barcode medication administration (BCMA), unit-dose packaging, controlled-substance management, interfacing with electronic health records and error-reduction strategies is essential. Key concepts include medication reconciliation, stock replenishment, audit trails, security features, software integration and validation protocols. Familiarity with advantages, limitations, human factors and maintenance requirements prepares students for clinical and industrial roles. Practical knowledge of pharmacy automation supports optimal patient outcomes and regulatory compliance. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. What is the primary purpose of an Automated Dispensing Cabinet (ADC) in a hospital setting?

• To provide a central repository for all medication orders
• To automate compounding of sterile preparations
• To secure, track and dispense medications at the point of care
• To replace pharmacists in clinical decision making

Correct Answer: To secure, track and dispense medications at the point of care

Q2. Which technology is most commonly used alongside ADCs to ensure the right patient receives the right drug?

• Automated compounding devices
• Barcode medication administration (BCMA)
• Radiofrequency identification (RFID) temperature sensors
• Automated phone alerts

Correct Answer: Barcode medication administration (BCMA)

Q3. Which of the following is a key advantage of automated dispensing systems?

• Increased manual paperwork for audits
• Reduced inventory turnover
• Improved medication-use safety and reduced dispensing errors
• Elimination of need for pharmacy technicians

Correct Answer: Improved medication-use safety and reduced dispensing errors

Q4. Which inventory control method is often used with automated dispensing to maintain optimal stock levels?

• First expired, first out (FEFO) without reorder points
• Just-in-case bulk purchasing
• Par-level based replenishment
• Manual daily counting without software

Correct Answer: Par-level based replenishment

Q5. What is an important security feature of ADCs for controlled substances?

• Open cabinet access for all staff during day shifts
• User authentication with audit trails and controlled-access drawers
• Automated disposal of expired controlled drugs
• Removal of electronic logs after 24 hours

Correct Answer: User authentication with audit trails and controlled-access drawers

Q6. Which process verifies that an automated dispensing system is installed and operating according to manufacturer specifications?

• Continual performance monitoring (CPM)
• Installation Qualification/Operational Qualification/Performance Qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ)
• Basic user training only
• Random daily spot checks without documentation

Correct Answer: Installation Qualification/Operational Qualification/Performance Qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ)

Q7. What does BCMA primarily reduce in the medication-use process?

• Need for electronic health records
• Dispensing and administration errors related to patient and drug mismatches
• Cost of medications by altering formulations
• Need for expiry date checks

Correct Answer: Dispensing and administration errors related to patient and drug mismatches

Q8. Which barcode standard is commonly used for unique identification of drug packages and facilitates traceability?

• HTML
• GS1 DataMatrix/GTIN
• ASCII
• JPEG

Correct Answer: GS1 DataMatrix/GTIN

Q9. What is a common drawback or risk associated with ADC implementation?

• Reduced documentation of dispensing events
• Workarounds by staff that may bypass safety features
• Immediate elimination of medication errors
• Inability to integrate with hospital information systems

Correct Answer: Workarounds by staff that may bypass safety features

Q10. Which type of pharmacy automation is best suited for high-volume centralized dispensing and unit-dose packaging?

• Automated dispensing cabinets at bedside
• Medication carts without automation
• Robotic carousel or centralized dispensing robot
• Manual tray systems

Correct Answer: Robotic carousel or centralized dispensing robot

Q11. Which data element is essential for ADC inventory to support recalls and traceability?

• Patient height and weight
• Lot number and expiry date
• Pharmacist’s home address
• Storage room temperature only

Correct Answer: Lot number and expiry date

Q12. What is the primary role of software interfaces between ADCs and hospital electronic health records (EHR/HIS)?

• To prevent any data exchange to protect privacy
• To enable medication order transmission, reconciliation and audit logging
• To automatically dispense non-prescription items at patient request
• To block pharmacist interventions

Correct Answer: To enable medication order transmission, reconciliation and audit logging

Q13. Which human factor consideration is important when designing ADC placement and workflow?

• Placing ADCs where they cause frequent interruptions
• Configuring complex screens without training
• Ergonomic placement to minimize reach, reduce interruptions and support verification
• Limiting access to only pharmacy managers

Correct Answer: Ergonomic placement to minimize reach, reduce interruptions and support verification

Q14. What is an override in the context of ADCs?

• An automatic update of software
• A manual access granted to retrieve medication without standard verification, usually logged for review
• Permanent removal of audit trail
• Feature that disables barcode scanning permanently

Correct Answer: A manual access granted to retrieve medication without standard verification, usually logged for review

Q15. Which practice helps ensure safe replenishment of ADC stock?

• Replenishing without checking existing quantities
• Using blind stocking with barcode scanning and double-check reconciliation
• Allowing anyone to add inventory without authentication
• Never checking expiry dates during refill

Correct Answer: Using blind stocking with barcode scanning and double-check reconciliation

Q16. How do automated dispensing systems help with controlled-substance regulation compliance?

• By deleting controlled-substance records after 30 days
• By maintaining secure access, detailed audit trails and automated counts for reconciliation
• By storing controlled drugs without locks to speed access
• By replacing DEA requirements completely

Correct Answer: By maintaining secure access, detailed audit trails and automated counts for reconciliation

Q17. Which metric is commonly used to measure ADC performance in inventory management?

• Medication color coding index
• Fill rate, stock-out frequency and inventory turnover
• Number of manual dispensing slips generated
• Number of user logins per day regardless of activity

Correct Answer: Fill rate, stock-out frequency and inventory turnover

Q18. What is meant by ‘closed-loop medication administration’?

• A process where medication orders, dispensing and administration are electronically linked to reduce errors
• Manual mailing of medication charts between departments
• Separating dispensing from administration without electronic records
• Using paper orders but automated dispensing

Correct Answer: A process where medication orders, dispensing and administration are electronically linked to reduce errors

Q19. Which action should be taken when an ADC shows a discrepancy during automated controlled-substance count?

• Ignore the discrepancy and continue using the drawer
• Document the discrepancy, secure the drawer, notify pharmacy and perform an immediate reconciliation
• Delete the transaction log to correct counts
• Immediately change user passwords without investigation

Correct Answer: Document the discrepancy, secure the drawer, notify pharmacy and perform an immediate reconciliation

Q20. Which validation is most relevant to confirm an ADC software upgrade does not affect medication safety?

• Installation qualification only
• Operational testing focused on dispensing workflows and interfaces (OQ/PQ testing)
• Visual inspection of hardware only
• No testing required for minor updates

Correct Answer: Operational testing focused on dispensing workflows and interfaces (OQ/PQ testing)

Q21. What role do audit trails in ADCs play in quality assurance?

• They slow down dispensing and are discouraged
• They provide a documented record of transactions for incident investigation and regulatory compliance
• They automatically delete errors without review
• They replace the need for staff training

Correct Answer: They provide a documented record of transactions for incident investigation and regulatory compliance

Q22. Which feature of ADCs reduces the risk of picking the wrong strength or formulation?

• Unlabeled drawers
• Forced verification using barcodes and on-screen checks displaying drug name, strength and patient details
• Allowing any staff to rearrange stock freely
• Hiding lot and expiry information

Correct Answer: Forced verification using barcodes and on-screen checks displaying drug name, strength and patient details

Q23. Which staff training topic is critical prior to ADC implementation?

• How to bypass safety features
• Proper authentication, use of BCMA, replenishment procedures and responses to discrepancies
• Only how to open the cabinet without documentation
• Training is unnecessary because the system is intuitive

Correct Answer: Proper authentication, use of BCMA, replenishment procedures and responses to discrepancies

Q24. Which monitoring activity helps detect gradual degradation of ADC picking accuracy?

• Annual software update without performance review
• Regular performance metrics review, error tracking and periodic audits
• Removing audit logs after one month
• Randomly changing drawer configurations often

Correct Answer: Regular performance metrics review, error tracking and periodic audits

Q25. How can ADCs contribute to antimicrobial stewardship?

• By allowing unrestricted dispensing of all antibiotics
• By enforcing order verification, restricting certain antimicrobials and tracking usage for review
• By automatically dispensing antibiotics without prescription
• By removing all usage data from records

Correct Answer: By enforcing order verification, restricting certain antimicrobials and tracking usage for review

Q26. Which of the following best describes ‘unit-dose’ in automated dispensing?

• Bulk bottles stored on nursing units
• Single-dose packaging labeled for one administration, often used with automated systems
• Multi-dose vials used for several patients without control
• Pill organizers prepared by patients

Correct Answer: Single-dose packaging labeled for one administration, often used with automated systems

Q27. What is a recommended practice for expired medications stored in ADCs?

• Keep them and mark them as expired without removal
• Remove and quarantine expired items immediately, update inventory and document disposition
• Return them to patient care areas for disposal
• Ignore expiry if quantity is low

Correct Answer: Remove and quarantine expired items immediately, update inventory and document disposition

Q28. Which regulatory body’s requirements are especially relevant for controlled substances stored in ADCs in many countries?

• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) only
• Local hospital board without legal authority
• Drug regulatory authorities such as the DEA (or national equivalents)
• Airline safety regulators

Correct Answer: Drug regulatory authorities such as the DEA (or national equivalents)

Q29. Which integration improves decision support at the time of dispensing from ADCs?

• Integration with entertainment services
• Integration with clinical decision support systems and electronic prescribing to flag allergies, interactions and dosing
• Integration with payroll systems
• Integration with social media

Correct Answer: Integration with clinical decision support systems and electronic prescribing to flag allergies, interactions and dosing

Q30. Which maintenance practice helps ensure continuous safe operation of ADC hardware?

• Never performing preventive maintenance to avoid downtime
• Scheduled preventive maintenance, firmware updates and timely repairs with documented checks
• Allowing unauthorized staff to modify hardware
• Only replacing parts after catastrophic failure

Correct Answer: Scheduled preventive maintenance, firmware updates and timely repairs with documented checks

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com