Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Practice Exam

What does the abbreviation DAW stand for in pharmacy?

1. Do Not Allow

2. Dispense As Written

3. Drug Administration Warning

4. Drug Authorization Waiver

The correct answer is: Dispense As Written

The abbreviation DAW stands for "Dispense As Written." This term is commonly used in the pharmacy setting to indicate that a medication should be dispensed exactly as prescribed by the healthcare provider, without any substitutions for a generic or equivalent medication. When a prescriber writes "DAW" on a prescription, it signals to the pharmacist that they must provide the specific brand-name drug requested, rather than a generic version, even if one is available. This ensures that the patient receives the exact medication that the healthcare provider deems appropriate for their treatment, taking into account potential variations in efficacy, formulation, or patient sensitivities between different brands and their generic counterparts. Understanding the significance of this abbreviation is crucial, as it affects how medications are dispensed and can influence patient outcomes. The other terms listed, while they may seem plausible, do not accurately reflect the meaning of DAW in the context of pharmacy practice.