Contamination control event offers USP 797 seminar

02/01/2007

ESTECH, the IEST’s 53rd annual technical meeting and exposition, will take place April 29-May 2 at the Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, Illinois. With seminars and tutorials focused on contamination issues, the event offers contamination control professionals a unique opportunity to learn from and network with their peers and colleagues in the industry.

New this year, a special seminar topic for contamination control professionals is avail-able. “Compounding Sterile Pharmaceuticals,” presented by members of the USP <797> committee and CleanRooms magazine, will focus on U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) Chapter 797, Pharmaceutical Compounding: Sterile Preparations.

The American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) recommends that all “persons who compound sterile preparations should exercise their professional judgment to obtain the education and training necessary to prove their competence in managing sterile compounding facilities and in sterile compounding processes and quality assurance.” USP <797> is the first set of relevant standards to address this requirement.

Published in 2004, USP <797> is currently under revision. Proposed changes to the 2004 standards were released in May 2006 to address inadequacies and clarify ambiguities in the document and, as a result, new concerns and questions have arisen.

“CleanRooms is very pleased to sponsor this special session at this year’s ESTECH,” said John Haystead, chief editor of CleanRooms magazine. “Hospital pharmacies, and specifically the compounding of sterile pharmaceuticals (CSPs), are among the most dynamic and expanding segments of the contamination control industry right now. Our live Webcasts on the topic have had unprecedented audience sizes and participation, and I’m certain this program’s topics and distinguished speakers will draw major interest as well.”

Presenting the seminar are members of the USP <797> committee, including Jim Wagner, president of Controlled Environment Consulting, and Eric Kastango, president and CEO of Clinical IQ. Also presenting: Kenneth Mead, research mechanical engineer for NIOSH, and R. Vijayakumar, consultant to the contamination control industry.

The upcoming seminar and panel discussion will provide a forum in which to explore the latest information on the status and implementation of USP <797>.

For more information on the seminars and tutorials ESTECH will offer, or to register for the event, visit the IEST Web site at www.iest.org.