Before filling a prescription, which information should a pharmacy technician verify?

Verifying the date of issue is crucial before filling a prescription because it ensures that the prescription is still valid and has not expired. Prescriptions typically have a time period during which they are valid, and filling a prescription that is outside of this timeframe may violate legal and pharmacy regulations.

While the prescriber's DEA number is important for controlled substances, it is not necessary for all prescriptions, as many medications are not classified this way. The number of refills is relevant to ensuring that the patient has the appropriate amount of medication authorized, but it is also not a primary verification step. Tracking the date the prescription was received by the pharmacy is more of an internal procedural detail and does not directly affect the validity of the prescription itself. Therefore, confirming the date of issue is the most critical factor in determining whether a prescription can be filled safely and legally.