Danielle A. Griggs, PharmD, MBA

Closed-system transfer devices (CSTDs) are an integral component in reducing occupational exposure to hazardous drugs. The goal of a CSTD is to prohibit drug exposure in the environment during all preparation and administration manipulations. These include injecting or disengaging a syringe into a vial, injecting a syringe into an intravenous (IV) bag, spiking a bag, priming an IV set, administering an IV push dose, and disengaging an IV set from other connections or from a patient. They have also been used to prevent transfer of environmental contents into the vial.

The current definition of a CSTD is descriptive, but does not include measurable performance standards. While standards are being developed, the alternative best measurable standards have come from primary literature evaluations. Just as we use evidence-based literature in our drug evaluations, it should also be used in drug device evaluations. CSTDs have been studied and published in primary, peer-reviewed literature using a variety of methods including wipe sampling, visual assessments, and vapor or smoke tests. The methods behind each of these evaluations need to be carefully considered when also evaluating the effectiveness of a CSTD in preventing drug exposure.

Wipe sampling is used to evaluate surface contamination following drug manipulation. These studies look at preparation and administration areas for contamination, signaling how well the CSTD performs in preventing drug exposure and how well the staff is handling the CSTD in those areas. However, wipe studies do have the limitation of not controlling for outside sources of contamination such as drug residue on the outside of drug vials, if those are not assessed during the wipe test. 

Visual assessment of CSTD efficacy has been performed with multiple surrogate markers. One method used is using fluoresceine and ultraviolet light to detect visual fluorescence. In these evaluations, leakage of the CSTD was indicated by visual fluorescence of the fluoresceine. Despite not being a sensitive method of assessment, this is a relatively easy and inexpensive evaluation of a CSTD. A second visual assessment includes smoke or vapor tests. Vapor tests evaluate the ability of the CSTD to retain vapor within the closed system. The results of this type of test can be difficult to quantify and reproduce. A less popular visual assessment method involves the use of radioactive technetium. In these studies, radiation is used to evaluate the level of contamination; however, technetium has a short halflife, which presents challenges to its usefulness and ability to be consistently tested.

The Table lists primary literature evaluating the efficacy of a variety of available CSTDs using many of the methods described above. A variety of methods and surrogate markers have been used to evaluate CSTDs for effectiveness in reducing surface contamination when handling hazardous drugs. When used in combination with other safe handling precautions, they are an integral component to reducing occupational exposure to hazardous drugs. CSTDs need to be treated and evaluated like new drugs by applying the same rigor and methodologies from primary literature studies to fully evaluate their effectiveness.

Danielle A. Griggs, PharmD, MBA, is a PGY-2 health-system pharmacy administration resident at the University of North Carolina Medical Center and a 2016 MS candidate at UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

Lindsey B. Amerine, PharmD, MS, BCPS, is assistant director of pharmacy, University of North Carolina Medical Center, and assistant professor of clinical education, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

		Sessink PJM, Rold M, Ryden N. Evaluation of the PhaSeal hazardous drug containment system. 

		Connor TH, Anderson RW, Sessink PJ, Spivey SM. Effectiveness of a closed-system device in containing surface contamination with cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide in an IV admixture area. 

		Nygren O, Gustavsson B, Strom L, Eriksson R, Jarneborn L, Friberg A. Exposure to anti-cancer drugs during preparation and administration. Investigations of an open and a closed system. 

		Wick C, Slawson MH, Jorgenson JA, Tyler LS. Using a closed-system protective device to reduce personnel exposure to antineoplastic agents. 

		Tans B, Willems L. Comparative contamination study with cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil and ifosfamide: standard versus a proprietary closed-handling system. 

. 2004;10:217-223. doi: 10.1191/1078155204jp140oa.

		Harrison BR, Peters BG, Bing MR. Comparison of surface contamination with cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil using a closed-system drug transfer device versus standard preparation techniques. 

		Nyman HA, Jorgenson JA, Slawson M. Workplace contamination with antineoplastic agents in a new cancer hospital using a closed-system drug transfer device. 

		Sessink PJ, Connor TH, Jorgenson JA, Tyler TG. Reduction in surface contamination with antineoplastic drugs in 22 hospital pharmacies in the US following implementation of a closed-system drug transfer device. 

. 2011;17(1):39-48. doi: 10.1177/1078155210361431.

		Sessink PJ, Trahan J, Coyne JW. Reduction in surface contamination with cyclophosphamide in 30 US hospital pharmacies following implementation of a closed-system drug transfer device. 

. 2013;48(3):204-212. doi: 10.1310/hpj4803-204.

		De Ausen L, DeFreitas EF, Littleton L, Lustik M. Leakage from closed-system transfer devices as detected by a radioactive tracer. 

. 2013;70(7):619-623. doi: 10.2146/ajhp110678.

		Nygren O, Olofsson E, Johansson L. Spill and leakage using a drug preparing system based on double-filter technology. 

. 2008;52(2):95-98. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mem067.

		LeGarlantezec P, Rizzo-Padoin N, Aupee O, Lamand V, Broto H, Almeras D. Evaluation of the performance of transfer devices in a closed system using a radioactive solution of [(99m) Tc] [in French]. 

. 2011;69(3):192-191. doi: 10.1016/j.pharma.2011.03.001.

		Zock MD, Soefje S, Rickabaugh K. Evaluation of surface contamination with cyclophosphamide following simulated hazardous drug preparation activites using two closed-system products. 

. 2011;17(1):49-54. doi: 10.1177/1078155210374673.

		Clark BA, Sessink PJ. Use of a closed system drug-transfer device eliminates surface contamination with antineoplastic agents. 

. 2013;19(2):99-104. doi: 10.1177/1078155212468367.

		Smith ST, Szlaczky MC. Syringe plunger contamination by hazardous drugs: a comparative study. 

Articles

Closed-system transfer devices are an integral component in reducing occupational exposure to hazardous drugs. 