What is the purpose of compounding sterile preparations?

The purpose of compounding sterile preparations primarily revolves around providing customized medications for patients. This practice is essential in situations where commercially available products do not meet specific patient needs, such as those with unique dosages, allergies to certain ingredients, or specialized delivery methods. By compounding sterile preparations, pharmacists can tailor medications to fit the exact requirements of individual patients, ensuring they receive the appropriate therapy while maintaining safety and effectiveness.

Option A, which mentions creating bulk drug supplies for hospitals, doesn't align with the core objective of compounding, as compounding focuses on individual patient needs rather than bulk dispensing. Option C, concerning testing drug efficacy, is more related to pharmaceutical research and development rather than the compounding process itself. Lastly, option D, regarding manufacturing over-the-counter drugs, refers to a different aspect of pharmacy practice that does not involve the customized preparation of sterile medications for patient-specific needs.