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USP Guidelines for Compounding Facilities

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is a non-profit organization that develops standards for human and animal drugs as well as food ingredients and dietary supplements.

For pharmaceutical compounding facilities, USP has guidelines in four general chapters:

  1. USP <795> Pharmaceutical Compounding – Nonsterile Preparations
  2. USP <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding – Sterile Preparations
  3. USP <800> Hazardous Drugs – Handling in Healthcare Settings
  4. USP <825> Radiopharmaceuticals – Preparation, Compounding, Dispensing, and Repackaging

These four chapters provide guidelines for safety considerations, personnel qualification and training, facilities and engineering controls, microbiology and surface monitoring, cleaning and disinfection, and much more. Continue reading “USP Guidelines for Compounding Facilities”

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What Are Room Pressure Monitors and Where Are They Used?

Hospital Isolation Room

Room pressure monitors are devices that monitor differential pressure between two rooms or areas. Differential pressure is the difference of two pressures being sensed.

There are several applications where it is important to maintain a pressure difference between two rooms. This helps to ensure that there are no contaminants entering or exiting a protected area. In a medical setting, an isolation room requires a pressure differential to make sure that no bacteria, pathogens, or viruses enter (or leave) the isolation room. This protects healthcare professionals, patients, and other guests, and minimizes the spread of germs. Room pressure monitors would also be used in areas such as: pharmaceutical manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing, clean rooms, research labs, vivariums, and clean manufacturing areas. Continue reading “What Are Room Pressure Monitors and Where Are They Used?”

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Pressure Transducers vs. Pressure Transmitters

What are the differences between pressure transducers and pressure transmitters?

Many readers have likely heard the terms transducer and transmitter used interchangeably without much confusion. When searching the internet for either term, search engines provide nearly identical results. Are there any differences? The short answer is “yes”.  Continue reading “Pressure Transducers vs. Pressure Transmitters”

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ESD and Surge Issues in Pumping, Pressure Boosting, and Irrigation Applications

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a unique phenomenon that can be seen in everyday life. The effects of ESD can be seen by rubbing a balloon on your head, resulting in your hair sticking to the balloon, or by touching a doorknob or a pet in a dry building and receiving a static shock.

In irrigation, well water pumping, and pressure boosting applications, ESD can cause larger issues than just a small shock to your finger. Because plastics used in PVC pipes are insulators, the moving water builds up static electric charges. Eventually, this static electric buildup will discharge through an ungrounded pathway (e.g. instrumentation or sensors used to control a pump). Continue reading “ESD and Surge Issues in Pumping, Pressure Boosting, and Irrigation Applications”