Buffer Area
An area where the primary engineering control (PEC) is physically located. Activities that occur in this area include the preparation and staging of components and supplies used when compounding CSP’s.
Cleanroom
(also see definition of buffer area) a room in which the concentration of airborne particles is controlled to meet a specified airborne particulate cleanliness class. Microorganisms in the environment are monitored so that a microbial level for air, surface, and personnel gear are not exceeded for a specified cleanliness class.
Ante-Area
An ISO Class 8 or better area where personnel hand hygiene and garbing procedures, staging of components, order entry, CSP labeling, and other high particulate generating activities are performed. It is also a transition area that provides assurance that pressure relationships are constantly maintained so that air flows from clean to dirty areas and reduced the need for the HVAC control system to respond to large disturbances.
Hazardous Drug
Drugs are classified as hazardous if studies in animals or humans indicate that exposures to them have a potential for causing cancer, development or reproductive toxicity, or harm to organs.
Air Lock
A space of separation between two different air pressures; may be a pass-through chamber or room; a door must be present to prevent loss of pressure in the high pressured room.
Air Pressure
Can be either positive or negative; positive air pressure environments may only be used for nonhazardous sterile preparations. Negative pressure environments can be used to prepare both hazardous and non-hazardous sterile preparations.
Acrylic Return
Takes air from room and recycles it back through HEPA filters to reduce the demand/ size of air handling unit (AHU) needed by almost half.
Critical Area
An ISO Class 5 environment
Negative Room Pressure
A room that is at a lower pressure than the adjacent spaces, and therefore, the net airflow is into the room
Positive Pressure Room
A room that is at a higher pressure than the adjacent spaces, and therefore, the net airflow is out of the room
Segregated Compounding Area
A designated space, either a demarcated area or room, that is restricted to preparing low-risk level CSP’s with 12-hour or less BUD.
Externally Vented
Exhausted to the outside
Passthru
An enclosure with interlocking doors that is positioned between two spaces for the purpose of reducing particulate transfer while moving materials from one space to another. A passthru serving negative-pressure rooms needs to be equipped with sealed doors.
