USP 797 Cleanroom Design Sterile Compounding

Upgrading a USP 797 Cleanroom to USP 800?

USP 800 Facility Upgrades and Components

USP 800 guidelines may present challenges for compounding facilities. Some facilities need infrastructural and mechanical modifications for compliance. System evaluation includes duct systems, HEPA fan filters, differential pressure standards, air monitoring, and external air exhaust equipment.

Sterile Compounding - Containment Primary Engineering Control

The C-PEC for sterile compounding should be located in a C-SEC, which may either be an ISO Class 7 buffer room and ante-room (preferred) or an unclassified containment segregated compounding area (C-SCA). If the C-PEC is placed in a C-SCA, the beyond use date (BUD) of all compounded sterile preparations (CSPs) so prepared should be limited as described in USP <797> for CSPs prepared in a SCA (USP 800, 2016).

  • All C-PECs used for manipulation of sterile HDs should be externally vented (USP 800, 2016).
  • If the C-SEC for sterile compounding is an ISO Class 7 buffer room, the C-SEC should be externally vented; provide 30 ACPH; and have a negative pressure between 0.01 and 0.03 inches of water column relative to adjacent areas (USP 800, 2016).
  • The ISO Class 7 ante-room or non-HD buffer room should maintain a positive pressure of at least 0.02 inches of water column to all adjacent unclassified areas (USP 800, 2016).
  • If the C-SEC for sterile compounding is a C-SCA, the C-SEC should be externally vented; provide 12 ACPH; and be at negative pressure between 0.01 and 0.03 inches of water column relative to adjacent areas (USP 800, 2016).

Non-sterile HD compounding

  1. Non-sterile HD compounding should be performed in a C-PEC that provides for personnel and environmental protection, such as a Class I BSC or a Containment Ventilated Enclosure (CVE) (USP 800, 2016).
  2. The C-PEC for non-sterile HD compounding should be placed in a C-SEC that is externally vented, have at least 12 ACPH, and be at  negative pressure between 0.01 and 0.03 inches of water column relative to adjacent areas (USP 800, 2016).

Pressurization

The balance between zones of differing pressure is challenging. USP 800 requires all hazardous drug compounding occur within a primary engineering control (C-PEC). The C-PEC is a location within a containment secondary engineering control (S-PEC). In practice, an ISO Class 5 flow hood within an ISO Class 7 buffer area is generally sufficient. Direct compounding areas must segregate from all other rooms, be externally vented, and negatively pressurized for maintenance of a 0.01-0.03 inch water column. Too much negative pressure draws dirty air and particles in from adjoining spaces. Notably, the configuration and layout of in-process controls dynamically affect overall room performance. Workflow, equipment, and personnel all require consideration when testing and balancing cleanroom design variables.

C-SEC or Room Requirements Via Simplex Cleanroom Systems
C-PEC Requirements Via Simplex Cleanroom Systems

All unpacking of hazardous drugs requires a neutral or negative pressure environment. Smaller healthcare organizations may not have a dedicated negative pressure cleanroom, nor the space requirements for an additional cleanroom. Modular cleanroom designs adapt for the facility, instead of customizing a facility for a cleanroom. Achieving an ISO Class 7 cleanroom required by USP 800 may require retrofitting an existing structure, thus consulting a team of architects and cleanroom engineers is ideal.

Pressure Monitoring

Cascading pressure systems need acute monitoring of air pressure differentials. Pressure monitoring ensures that filter resistance, fan and blower pressures, air velocity, and pressure drops are detectable and traceable. USP 800 requires a water column maintenance of 0.01-0.03 inch between cascaded pressure rooms based on compound classification. Upgrading will entail installing gauges with internal diaphragms that measure the amount of tension between two sealed regions of varying pressure.

Security & Access

USP 800 tightens access controls and expands labeling for hazardous drug storage. Air showers or other entry points may require updated software and hardware with a card reader that permits only authorized personnel.

Refrigerated Hazardous Drugs

USP 800 requires a dedicated hazardous drug storage refrigerator located in a negative or neutral pressure area.

External Ventilation

External ventilation is a primary consideration for USP 800 outfitting. USP 800 requires a negative pressure room with external ventilation for compounding activities. A neutral or negative pressure room is required for all unpacking or storage of hazardous drugs (HDs). Installing or modifying the current system is needed for facilities that have traditionally unpacked HDs in a positive pressure environment.

The routing of new exhaust ductwork through a building already dense with electrical and HVAC is intensive. Sometimes upgrading existing infrastructure is possible, sometimes it is not. For critical cleanrooms that require more supporting space, the outcome has many variables: location within the building, square footage, structural requirements, cleanliness level, and more. Sometimes relocating a cleanroom to a new area or different floor of the building is ideal. Using crane systems for a cleanroom installation far above ground level is not unrealistic when lower level spaces complicate electrical, structural, or HVAC support.

Air Supply

Each ISO Class level is 10 times cleaner than the next lowest classification. Moving up one cleanroom class from an ISO Class 8 to an ISO Class 7 cleanroom requires nearly twice as much air. Air filtration and conditioning is a significant factor in operating expenses. The total square footage, the number of filters needed, humidity, and air intake temperature determine energy requirements. The efficiency of these systems is a direct relation to operating cost and a 25% cost increase is normal for each step up in classification.

Is Compounding Sterile and Nonsterile Compounds in the Same Room Allowed Under USP 800?

Yes, assuming that two BSCs allow separation during processing, USP 800 permits the coworking of both hazardous and nonhazardous with special design and process requirements. Depending on the application, room configuration requires consideration, consulting a cleanroom engineer is beneficial. 

Cleanroom Design Is Complex, But It Gets Less Complicated

Cleanroom construction, much like building a new facility, requires a myriad of workers, parts, materials, and design considerations. Sourcing components and supervising construction for a new facility is not something you’d ever take on by yourself. Why would building a cleanroom be any different?

CleanPro (that’s us) helps you achieve the correct pressurization differentials, ACPH and ISO classification requirements (i.e., cleanroom construction, retrofitting, HVAC, HEPA filters, temperature/humidity gauges) for each space. Our engineering team conducts preliminary research to determine what types of facility changes you will need to upgrade from USP 795 or USP 797 compliance.

What's The CleanPro Advantage?

CleanPro is a division of Production Automation, a broad-line distributor of cleanroom components, furniture, equipment and consumables across the Americas. That means furnishing or supplying a cleanroom upgrade is provided by one point of contact. Our team helps you identify new C-PECs and C-SECs with the appropriate equipment such as room segments, bio-safety cabinets, glove boxes, and monitoring systems used only for hazardous drug compounding. Answer some basic questions about your facility requirements, and we will get back to you within 24 – 48 hours. Or, get more info from our cleanroom knowledgebase

Disclaimer

Consulting a cleanroom specialist would be in any healthcare institution’s best interest and can help alleviate many of the challenges associated with compliance. In addition to detecting the potential space or building infrastructure modifications needed, a cleanroom specialist can help to identify which approach—modular or stick-built construction—is the best fit. Factors such as budget, work flow and anticipated future growth will be taken into consideration and accounted for.

It is recommended for healthcare administrators and employees involved in the hazardous drug process to read USP <800> in its entirety and understand all requirements and recommendations set forth by the chapter. Though USP <800> will impact many healthcare institutions, it is undisputed that the guidelines set forth by the chapter for the handling of hazardous drugs are an important step for protecting healthcare workers and the environment moving forward.

Compliance requires temporal evaluation on a case-by-case basis according to state and federal law. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to outline, define, revise, and validate standard procedures and protocols internally.

Web content provided by Production Automation Corporation (PAC) makes no claims as to the final interpretations or implementation of regulatory documents provided by the FDA, State Board of Pharmacy, or United States Pharmacopeia (USP).

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Mitch Walleser

Mitch Walleser

Mitch is a contributing writer for Production Automation Corporation. PAC is a factory-direct distributor of products and environmental solutions for industrial and critical requirements within electronics, medical device, life science, pharmaceutical, and general manufacturing industries. Mitch has worked with manufacturing engineers, in-house specialists, and factory experts to highlight and uncover manufacturing solutions. His background includes 3D printing, electronics, and cleanroom manufacturing.

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