What inventory requirement must be completed before a pharmacy begins business?

What inventory requirement must be completed before a pharmacy begins business?

• A. Initial inventory of all CS must be taken before starting business
• B. Inventory at end of first year
• C. No inventory requirement
• D. Inventory only after first prescription

Answer: (A)

The key idea is establishing a baseline for controlled substances before any dispensing occurs. When a new pharmacy opens and obtains a DEA registration, it must take an exact inventory of all controlled substances on hand at the moment the registration becomes effective. This pre-opening inventory creates the starting point for accountability and helps ensure accurate tracking in future inventories. The counts must be precise and cover all controlled substances (Schedule I–V) in the facility, with proper documentation that includes details like drug name, strength, form, and quantity. After this initial baseline, the pharmacy will continue to maintain accountability with regular inventories, such as the biennial (every two years) inventory requirement. So the pre-opening, exact inventory is the correct requirement, rather than waiting until after the first prescription or not having any inventory requirement at all.

The key idea is establishing a baseline for controlled substances before any dispensing occurs. When a new pharmacy opens and obtains a DEA registration, it must take an exact inventory of all controlled substances on hand at the moment the registration becomes effective. This pre-opening inventory creates the starting point for accountability and helps ensure accurate tracking in future inventories. The counts must be precise and cover all controlled substances (Schedule I–V) in the facility, with proper documentation that includes details like drug name, strength, form, and quantity.

After this initial baseline, the pharmacy will continue to maintain accountability with regular inventories, such as the biennial (every two years) inventory requirement. So the pre-opening, exact inventory is the correct requirement, rather than waiting until after the first prescription or not having any inventory requirement at all.