Pharmacy Tech Terminology at Your Fingertips

Pharmacists compound, prepare, and dispense medications for the treatment of illnesses and diseases. Pharmacy tech terminology is based on many Latin-based abbreviations now commonly used in medicine worldwide. Knowing conversion elements and measures in the apothecaries' system is critical for practitioners. Here are a few refreshers:

Conversion Factors
To convert gr/lb to mg/lb, multiply by 60
To convert gr/lb to mg/kg, multiply by 143
To convert mg/lb to gr/lb, multiply by 0.015
To convert mg/lb to mg/kg, multiply by 2.2
To convert mg/kg to gr/lb, multiply by 0.007
To convert mg/kg to mg/lb, multiply by 0.45

Conversion Equivalents
1 milligram = 1/65 grain
1 gram = 15.432 grains
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
1 milliliter = 16.23 minims
1 liter = 1.06 quarts (33.8 fluid ounces)
1 grain = 65 milligrams
1 dram = 3.88 grams
1 ounce = 31.1 grams
1 pound = 454 grams
1 minim = 0.062 milliliter
1 fluid dram = 3.7 milliliters
1 fluid ounce = 29.57 milliliters
1 pint = 473 milliliters
1 quart = 946 milliliters
1 drop = 1 minim
1 teaspoonful = 5 milliliters
1 dessertspoonful = 8 milliliters
1 tablespoonful = 15 milliliters

Weight and Volume
Weight
20 grains (gr) = 1 scruple
3 scruples = 1 dram
8 drams = 1 ounce (480 grains)

Volume
60 minims (m) = 1 fluid dram
8 fluid drams = 1 fluid ounce
16 fluid ounces = 1 pint