Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Category 1 Compounded Sterile Preparations (CSPs) are those that are compounded in environments that provide less stringent control than those in more advanced categories. These preparations are typically made in settings such as the general pharmacy area that may not meet the same environmental quality standards as sterile compounding facilities.

As a result of these factors, Category 1 CSPs have shorter beyond-use dates (BUDs). The reduced level of environmental control increases the risk of microbial contamination and degradation, which is why the BUDs for these preparations must be kept shorter to ensure patient safety.

While other categories may allow for extended BUDs when compounded under more optimal conditions or using certain preservatives, the designation as Category 1 generally signifies a need for caution, thereby mandating shorter BUDs to mitigate risks associated with the preparation quality.