What is the purpose of using forceps when compounding non-sterile products?

Using forceps when compounding non-sterile products serves the primary purpose of picking up and transferring weights. This process is important as it helps maintain the cleanliness and integrity of both the ingredients and the final product. Utilizing forceps minimizes direct hand contact with the materials, which can introduce contaminants or alter the properties of the substances being handled.

Moreover, when compounding, maintaining a sterile or uncontaminated environment is crucial for accuracy and safety in pharmaceutical preparations. Forceps allow the technician to handle solid ingredients with precision and care, which is particularly important when working with potent compounds or when precision in measurement is vital.

Other options like mixing solutions, weighing ingredients, or measuring liquid volumes are typically performed with different tools or methods suited to those specific tasks, such as mixing sticks, balances, or graduated cylinders, respectively.