GPAT Dispensing and Hospital Pharmacy Syllabus

Dispensing and Hospital Pharmacy syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Dispensing and Hospital Pharmacy in GPAT, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Introduction to laboratory equipment, weighing methodology, handling of prescriptions, labelling instructions for dispensed products

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Dispensing and Hospital Pharmacy — no further topic split in the official outline.

2. 2

   Posological calculations involved in the calculation of dosage for infants

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Dispensing and Hospital Pharmacy — no further topic split in the official outline.

3. 3

   Study of current patent and proprietary products, generic products and selected brand products, indications, contraindications, adverse drug reactions, available dosage forms and packing

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Dispensing and Hospital Pharmacy — no further topic split in the official outline.

4. 4

   Compounding and dispensing of following prescriptions

   3 topics

   • Preparations of formulations involving allegation
   • Preparations of formulations involving alcohol dilution
   • Preparations of formulations involving isotonic solution
5. 5

   Reading and counselling of prescriptions from the clinical practice

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Dispensing and Hospital Pharmacy — no further topic split in the official outline.

6. 6

   Enlarging and reducing formula, displacement value

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Dispensing and Hospital Pharmacy — no further topic split in the official outline.

Dispensing and Hospital Pharmacy flashcards for GPAT

22 of 50 cards from the Dispensing and Hospital Pharmacy deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is alligation in pharmaceutical calculations?

   A rapid arithmetic method for solving problems that involve mixing two or more components of known strength to obtain a mixture of a desired (usually intermediate) strength.

2. What are the two types of alligation?

   Alligation medial and alligation alternate.

3. What is alligation medial used for?

   To calculate the average (mean) strength of a mixture when the strengths and quantities of all individual components are already known.

4. What is alligation alternate used for?

   To determine the proportion (number of parts) in which components of different strengths must be mixed to obtain a product of a desired intermediate strength.

5. For alligation alternate to work, where must the desired strength lie?

   Between the highest and lowest available component strengths, i.e. it must be an intermediate value.

6. What graphical device is used to perform alligation alternate?

   Pearson's square (also called the alligation cross or alligation square).

7. In Pearson's square, how are the parts of each component obtained?

   By subtracting diagonally: the difference between the desired strength and one component's strength gives the number of parts of the OTHER component.

8. Where is the desired strength placed in Pearson's square?

   In the centre of the square.

9. By alligation alternate, in what ratio are 95% and 50% alcohol mixed to make 70% alcohol?

   Parts of 95% = 70-50 = 20; parts of 50% = 95-70 = 25; ratio 20:25 = 4:5.

10. By alligation medial, what is the % alcohol when 3000 mL of 40% and 1000 mL of 60% are mixed?

    (3000x40 + 1000x60)/4000 = (120000+60000)/4000 = 45% alcohol.

11. In alligation, when the desired strength is lower than every available strength, what component is added?

    A diluent of 0% strength (e.g. water), so that the desired value lies between the two strengths used.

12. In alligation, what does the term 'parts' represent?

    Relative proportions by quantity (volume or weight) in which the components are combined, not absolute amounts.

13. How do you convert alligation 'parts' into actual quantities for a required total?

    Each component quantity = (its parts / total parts) x total quantity required.

14. Can alligation alternate handle more than two components?

    Yes; each strength above the desired value is paired diagonally with a strength below it, and the parts are summed for each component.

15. How much 50% stock solution and water make 1 L of 20% solution by alligation?

    Parts of 50% = 20-0 = 20; parts of water = 50-20 = 30; total 50 parts. So 50% = 20/50 x 1000 = 400 mL and water = 600 mL.

16. What is the main practical advantage of the alligation method?

    It gives a quick arithmetic solution to mixing problems without setting up formal algebraic equations.

17. Distinguish quickly: when do you use alligation medial vs alligation alternate?

    Medial = find the resulting strength from known quantities; alternate = find the quantities/proportions needed to reach a known desired strength.

18. What underlying principle governs alcohol dilution calculations?

    The amount of pure (absolute) alcohol stays constant; only water is added, so C1V1 = C2V2.

19. State the standard dilution equation used for alcohol.

    C1 x V1 = C2 x V2 (initial concentration x initial volume = final concentration x final volume).

20. What is 'proof spirit' in the British system?

    A reference standard containing 57.1% v/v (about 49.28% w/w) ethanol at 51 degrees F.

21. What do 'over proof' (OP) and 'under proof' (UP) mean?

    OP = stronger than proof spirit; UP = weaker than proof spirit; the percentage states how far above or below proof the strength is.

22. Why does volume contraction occur when alcohol and water are mixed?

    Hydrogen bonding and tighter molecular packing between ethanol and water make the final volume less than the sum of the two starting volumes.

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