Which of the following components of the prescription should a pharmacy technician verify before filling?

The component of the prescription that is crucial for a pharmacy technician to verify before filling is the number of refills. This is because the refill information determines how many times a patient can obtain a medication without requiring a new prescription from the prescriber. It is essential to ensure that the prescribed refills align with the clinical requirements and legal regulations governing that medication.

Verifying refills helps maintain patient safety by preventing overuse or misuse of medication and ensures that patients do not run out of essential medications unexpectedly. Moreover, accuracy in this detail ensures compliance with pharmacy laws and reduces the risk of potential legal issues or medication errors that could arise from misinterpreting a prescription's refill instructions.

While the strength, dose, and quantity of medication are also important components to check, they pertain more directly to the immediate accuracy of the medication being dispensed rather than the administrative and legal implications tied to how often it can be refilled. Thus, confirming the correct number of refills is key for a pharmacy technician's responsibilities in managing patient care effectively and safely.