Protecting Workers Through Surface Contamination Monitoring

Ryan Forrey, PharmD, MS, FASHP is the Senior Manager of Market Development for Hazardous Drugs at BD. In this video, filmed at the recent American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting, Dr. Forrey discusses USP 800 and surface contamination monitoring.

Ryan Forrey, PharmD, MS, FASHP: "USP 800 is important for people as they look at how they can protect their health care workers. That’s the whole point of the chapter. Surface contamination monitoring, in the chapter itself, is a recommendation. At the time that the chapter’s been written, the varying levels of technology were available.

"There are newer technologies and newer ways to do surface contamination testing for hazardous drugs, and monitoring, that hopefully will revolutionize the way that we protect our health care workers. Any wipe sampling is just a snapshot of that moment in time. But, like a snapshot picture in the days of 35mm film, I think the new technologies that are coming out will revolutionize the way we look at it, like a digital camera revolutionized picture taking.

"I think that’s a simplified way of thinking about it, but it really hits home with me. So, it’s exciting to hear how different institutions are putting it into practice, and what we can continue to do to protect our health care workers."