Overview
This lecture covers how to convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit, emphasizing its importance for proper medication storage in pharmacy practice.
Importance of Temperature Conversions
- Proper temperature storage maintains medication efficacy and safety.
- Pharmacy professionals must interpret storage requirements in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.
- Accurate temperature conversion ensures compliance with medication guidelines.
Temperature Conversion Formulas
- To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit: multiply degrees Celsius by 9/5, then add 32.
- To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius: subtract 32 from Fahrenheit, then multiply by 5/9.
- Calculators are allowed and provided during certification exams.
Examples of Temperature Conversions
- Insulin storage: 2°C to 8°C.
- 2°C × 9/5 = 3.6; 3.6 + 32 = 35.6°F.
- 8°C × 9/5 = 14.4; 14.4 + 32 = 46.4°F.
- Insulin should be stored between 35.6°F and 46.4°F.
- Amoxicillin suspension storage: 36°F to 46°F.
- (36°F - 32) × 5/9 = 2.22°C.
- (46°F - 32) × 5/9 = 7.78°C.
- Store between 2.22°C and 7.78°C.
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine storage: -70°C.
- -70°C × 9/5 = -126; -126 + 32 = -94°F.
- Store at -94°F.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Efficacy — the ability of a medication to produce the desired effect.
- Celsius (°C) — metric temperature scale where water freezes at 0° and boils at 100°.
- Fahrenheit (°F) — temperature scale used in the US, where water freezes at 32° and boils at 212°.
- Temperature Conversion — converting temperature readings between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice converting medication storage temperatures between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
- Review medication guidelines to ensure proper temperature storage.
- Prepare a calculator for practice and use during exams.