Drug Recall Duties of a Pharmacy Technician

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) board is responsible for screening and approving foods and drugs sold at outlets across the United States. They must also inform pharmacies in the event of a product recall. The FDA classifies the seriousness of recalls from levels three to one. Class one product recalls are the most serious safety concerns that may result in patient death or serious illness. Recalls are undertaken where research has revealed safety concerns or if there was an error in the labeling or level of ingredients at product launch.

Stock Control

• Pharmacy technicians who receive a recall request should locate all current stock of the product and remove them from shelves immediately. As stated on the Allied Health World Web site, recall requests are often done voluntarily by drug manufacturers if they realize they have made an error in labeling or producing a drug. Technicians may also need to examine refrigerators and freezers as pharmacies sometimes use these to preserve excess stocks.

  Pharmacy technicians employed by hospitals will need to check several hospital areas, such as patient treatment cassettes, medication storage areas and all hospital wards that may be using the drug.

Safe Storage

• Once all product samples have been removed, the pharmacy technician should put the medication in a specified area separate from other products. Depending on the reason for the recall and the level of safety concerns, products may have to be stored in containers until disposal can be arranged. In some cases, supplies of a product may not yet have been received. In these cases, no further action is necessary.

Product Disposal

• A pharmacy technician may be advised by the FDA to dispose of any recalled products by strictly adhering to federal laws for disposing of chemical substances. In some cases, pharmacy technicians may be asked to arrange to return drugs to the supplier, depending on the instructions of the FDA.

  Pharmacy technicians are responsible for taking medication off the shelves, but patients who have already been prescribed medication may still be at risk. In these cases, the physician who recommended the treatment regimen should contact the patients and advise as to whether treatment should be stopped.

Updating Records

• Pharmacy staff are advised to document all activity relating to the recall of a specific drug to ensure any disputes relating to selling a drug after the recall date can be swiftly resolved. Records must also be kept where stocks are destroyed, as stated on the Health Research Association website. Pharmacy technicians employed by hospitals should quickly update medication management so that the recalled product is completely removed from approved treatment regimens. They should also quarantine the recalled products and inform the hospital Safety Office, who will contact patients where necessary. In cases where the pharmacist is affiliated with a physician's practice, they should be contacted immediately.

  When all required safety steps have been carried out, the pharmacy technician should contact the FDA, so that they can update their records.