Vials Containing Drug Solutions
Vials must be thoroughly wiped with sterile alcohol wipes before being
brought into the laminar flow work area.
Flip off plastic caps are removed when aimed at the side wall to prevent
the plastic cap from hitting other sterile equipment and contaminating it.
The rubber closure (stopper) is revealed when the plastic flip off cap is removed.
The rubber closure is wiped at least twice to the side,
in one direction, with a sterile alcohol wipe.
Wiping in one direction is done because aluminum particles from the seal and
particles from the rubber stopper should be pushed to the side
- away from the needle target in the center of the stopper.
This minimizes contamination of the drug solution
when the needle is pushed through the rubber stopper.
The cleanest air in the laminar flow hood comes from the HEPA filter.
The bevel of the needle is aimed at the HEPA filter and
clean air is drawn into the syringe.
Draw in a volume of air equivalent to or slightly greater than
the amount of drug solution that will be withdrawn from the vial.