Question

question 105
a pharmacy technician receives a prescription for a medication with the sig ii gtt os bid. the technician should recognize that this patient should instill which of the following?

two drops in the right eye twice daily
two drops in the left ear twice daily
two drops in both eyes once daily
two drops in the left eye twice daily

Explanation:

Translate the quantity and dosage form

Using the Medical Abbreviations and Prescription Translation knowledge points

• "ii" represents the Roman numeral for 2.
• "gtt" is the abbreviation for drops (from the Latin guttae).
• Therefore, "ii gtt" translates to "two drops".

Translate the route of administration

Using the Medical Abbreviations and Prescription Translation knowledge points

• "OS" is the abbreviation for the left eye (from the Latin oculus sinister).
• Note: "OD" is right eye (oculus dexter) and "OU" is both eyes (oculus uterque). "AD/AS/AU" refer to ears.

Translate the frequency of administration

Using the Medical Abbreviations and Prescription Translation knowledge points

• "bid" is the abbreviation for twice a day (from the Latin bis in die).

Combine the translated components

Using the Prescription Translation knowledge point

• Combining "ii gtt" (two drops), "OS" (in the left eye), and "bid" (twice daily) yields: "Two drops in the left eye twice daily".

Answer:

• Two drops in the right eye twice daily
• Two drops in the left ear twice daily
• Two drops in both eyes once daily
• Two drops in the left eye twice daily (Correct answer)