North Carolina Medication Aide (Med Tech) Practice Exam

Which of the following options is NOT an abbreviation for drug routes?

1. IV

2. IM

3. PO

4. PD

The correct answer is: PD

The correct answer is D, PD, as it is not a commonly recognized abbreviation for a drug route. The abbreviations IV, IM, and PO are standard medical terms that denote specific routes of administering medication. IV stands for intravenous, which refers to the delivery of medication directly into a patient’s vein. This method is often used for quick action in delivering treatments. IM stands for intramuscular, indicating that the medication is injected into a muscle. This route is typically used for vaccines or medications that need to be absorbed more slowly than intravenous methods. PO stands for per os, which is Latin for "by mouth." This indicates that the medication is taken orally, a common and straightforward route for many medications. In contrast, PD does not refer to a recognized drug administration route in standard medical contexts, which is why it is the correct choice for the question. Understanding these abbreviations is crucial for safe medication administration, as they play a key role in ensuring that medications are given correctly and effectively.