What should a compounding technician do if they receive outdated materials?

A compounding technician receiving outdated materials should always discard them and report to a supervisor. This practice is crucial for maintaining patient safety and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Outdated materials may have diminished efficacy or safety profiles, which can jeopardize the health of patients receiving compounded medications. The Beyond-Use Date (BUD) is established based on stability studies, and once this date has passed, the integrity of the materials cannot be guaranteed. Reporting to a supervisor not only ensures accountability but also allows for further action to be taken, which could involve restocking or receiving the proper materials for compounding.

Using outdated materials, even cautiously or for emergency use, introduces significant risk to patient safety and should be strictly avoided.