Texas Medical Assistant Certification Practice Test

What action should you take when withdrawing a medication from an ampule?

1. You can invert the ampule to withdraw the liquid.

2. You should not invert it to avoid draining.

3. You should use a syringe that can hold more than the ampule.

4. You can shake the ampule before withdrawal.

The correct answer is: You should not invert it to avoid draining.

When withdrawing medication from an ampule, it's essential to avoid inverting it to prevent draining any residual liquid into the needle or syringe, which can lead to inaccurate dosing or wastage of the medication. The proper technique for accessing the medication from an ampule involves breaking the top off and drawing the liquid into the syringe without turning the ampule upside down. This method helps to ensure that you only take the required dose of medication without leaving any behind in the ampule, which is crucial for accurate dosing and preventing waste. Inverting could potentially cause air bubbles to form in the syringe, leading to an incorrect dosage. Therefore, maintaining the upright position while withdrawing is fundamentally the best practice when handling ampules in a clinical setting.