Share:

Hazardous drugs (HDs) are defined as those in the genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, organ toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and teratogenicity categories. As dictated by USP 800, the mandate requiring safe handling of medications with these features, health care facilities must follow a few guidelines to prevent contamination. The guide below provides an overview of what to implement to remain compliant.

Facility Requirements

The facility’s design must promote contamination-free production. There should be designated areas for receiving and unpacking hazardous drugs, storage, and performing compounding actions. According to USP 800 guidelines, the receipt and unpacking section should feature neutral or negative pressure. Negative pressure spaces have lower air pressure than surrounding rooms, allowing outside air in but containing hazardous particles inside.

USP 800In terms of HD storage, the chosen rooms should feature sturdy, durable shelving with raised front lips that help prevent bottles from falling, helping you avoid shards and spills. Storage rooms must also feature negative pressure and external ventilation, with the air being cycled and changed at least 12 times per hour.

Compounding rooms must also feature external ventilation and remain separate from other HD prep areas. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the air pressure in these spaces needs to be between “0.01 and 0.03 of water column relative to adjacent areas.”

Handling Protocols for Health Care Staff

Any employees who handle HDs must wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including disposable fabric gowns with low permeability, shoe covers, beard and hair covers, and latex, neoprene, or nitrile gloves. When handling chemotherapy drugs, staff members must wear two pairs of powder-free gloves because powder can absorb HDs. Employees must also wear face and eye masks to stay safe from splashing when moving liquid drugs, and have respirators on so they don’t inhale drugs in aerosol formats.

Additional protocols to establish include washing hands before and after wearing gloves, as well as disposing of empty bottles, tubing, intravenous therapy (IV) bags, used gloves, and syringes in red biohazard bags. All supplies must be disinfected and sterilized prior to compounding.

 

Ensure USP 800 compliance with metro wire shelving and laboratory equipment from Midwest Medical Systems. Based in Dayton, OH, this family-owned business has served the Midwest since 1989, providing supplies for hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, and retail drugstores. Call (800) 762-7722 to place an order, or review their products online

tracking