When receiving DSCSA products, which action should pharmacy staff take?

• A. Evaluate the product for signs of damage, tampering, or illegitimate or unusable
• B. Taste the product to check quality
• C. Compare price to prior shipments
• D. Check only the label color

Answer: (A)

When receiving DSCSA products, the focus is on ensuring safety and authenticity right at the moment of receipt. Pharmacy staff should inspect the packaging and product for signs of damage, tampering, or illegitimate or unusable items. This hands-on check helps confirm the product is genuine and safe to dispense, upholding the integrity of the supply chain and protecting patients. Tasting the product is unsafe and not acceptable; price comparisons don’t verify safety or authenticity; checking only the label color can miss tampering or counterfeit issues. If anything looks off, quarantine the item and follow policy to escalate: notify the supplier, document the concern, and pursue appropriate verification or reporting as required by DSCSA guidelines (which may include checking serialization/lot numbers and contacting the supplier).