Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Practice Exam

What is an example of a drug-laboratory interaction?

1. Antibiotics affecting blood testing procedures

2. Antihistamines causing drowsiness

3. Stimulants raising heart rate

4. Anticoagulants causing bruising

The correct answer is: Antibiotics affecting blood testing procedures

The correct answer, identifying antibiotics affecting blood testing procedures, highlights a critical aspect of drug-laboratory interactions. Certain antibiotics can interfere with laboratory tests by either altering the metabolism of the substances being measured or directly affecting the assay methods used in testing. For example, antibiotics may cause a false-positive result in certain bacteriological cultures or may affect the levels of specific markers in test results, which can lead to misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment decisions. Being aware of such interactions is vital for healthcare professionals as they must consider the impact that administered medications can have on laboratory results when evaluating a patient's condition. Other options, while they do describe significant effects of medications, illustrate different categories of drug interactions. Antihistamines causing drowsiness pertains to their sedative effects rather than a laboratory interaction. Stimulants raising heart rate relate to pharmacological effects on the cardiovascular system. Meanwhile, anticoagulants causing bruising demonstrates a side effect related to bleeding risk rather than a direct impact on laboratory testing processes. Understanding these distinctions helps healthcare providers optimize patient care and interpret diagnostic tests accurately.