Some of the simplest things in a clean area are the cleaning and sanitizing solutions. Normally, we have only to prepare, control, and dispense these solutions properly, so that we can guarantee that they will do what they are supposed to do. But this simple action has many points to consider so that they do not become oversights, including:
• The type of water used, how it is obtained, and the time and conditions of storage.
• The material used in the preparation. Is it sterile? If not, it is disinfected? Do you know how long the water can remain in this condition?
• The preparation – did you follow the procedure? What kind of measure did you use? How accurate does the measure have to be? Do you have the correct material to do so? Did you use a concentrated solution, and is it controlled? Where is the solution stored and dispensed?
• Regarding the things used for the cleaning process: it is important to define how many times you can use them in a procedure – if they are reused, how do you clean these things? This point is critical for avoiding cross-contamination.
This cleanroom tip is courtesy of Grace F. Priebel de Vila, a pharmacist with a postgrade in Quality Assurance. Ms. Priebel resides in Bogota, Colombia, and can be reached at gracepriebel@gmail.com.
This cleanroom tip appeared in the April 2015 issue of Controlled Environments.
