True or False: Needles and syringes are packaged as sterile, and sterility must be maintained during compounding.

The statement is true because needles and syringes are indeed packaged as sterile to ensure that they are free of microorganisms when they are used in compounding sterile preparations. Maintaining sterility throughout the compounding process is critical to prevent contamination and protect patient safety.

When compounding sterile preparations, any equipment that comes into contact with the sterile product, such as needles, syringes, and even vials, must remain sterile to ensure the final product is safe for administration. This adherence to maintaining sterility is a key principle in aseptic technique, which is essential in preventing potential infections or adverse events associated with contaminated products.

The other options suggest instances where sterility might not be necessary, which overlooks the universal need for maintaining a sterile environment during the compounding of all sterile products regardless of their classification.