“Compounding” refers to the art and science of preparing individualized products for patients. In ages past, it was the standard method by which pharmacists and apothecaries produced medications for patients. Today commercially available medicines are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of people. However, in some cases a more tailored, ‘compounded’ solution is needed.
Aseptic Compounding
What is Aseptic Compounding?
Aseptic’ (or ‘Sterile’) Compounding is a particular type of compounding where the product made by the pharmacist is completely free of potentially hazardous contaminants, be they physical (e.g. dust), chemical (e.g. bacterial endotoxins) or microbiological (e.g. bacteria, viruses or fungi).
It is important for a medicine to be sterile and particle-free if it is to be administered in a manner that bypasses the body’s usual defensive barriers, such as directly into the blood stream by injection or infusion. Injection of a product that is not sterile and particle-free can result in infection, blocked blood vessels (embolism) and/or fever.
How is Aseptic Compounding used?
‘Aseptic Compounding’ is used by the pharmacist to prepare a ‘custom-made’ product for an individual patient that is both sterile and particle-free. As well as allowing for this customization of medicines, aseptic compounding is useful for:
- avoiding the need for patients or carers to manipulate a product, thereby reducing the risk of product contamination;
- producing a product that is consistent in quality and appearance;
- preparing medicines that have specific handling requirements, e.g. cytotoxic drugs;
- reducing the risk of error.
Compounding at Bayview Health
Preparing a sterile product requires the use of specific handling requirements by highly trained and experienced operators in a tightly controlled compounding environment. At Bayview Health, all our staff undergo rigorous training and validation before being permitted to compound sterile products. Our compounding facilities and processes follow the principles of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and are compliant with the requirements of the Pharmacy Board of Australia and USP<797>.
Our facilities
Our well-equipped compounding facilities are routinely tested and revalidated to ensure that they continually support the preparation of high-quality sterile products. Our ISO Grade 5 negative pressure Isolator is situated in an ISO Grade 7 background environment attached to an ISO Grade 8 buffer zone, providing the appropriate controls for compounding a variety of aseptic products.
Our focus is on providing a high-quality aseptic compounding service that is flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients. Our passionate and professional team of pharmacists and technicians have extensive experience in the provision of aseptic compounding services, including compounding for:
- clinical trials
- cytotoxic products
- biological products
- immunotherapy.
For more information or to discuss how Bayview Health can help with your aseptic compounding requirements, please give one of our friendly team members a call on (08) 6488 2290 or send an email to matildabaypharmacy@bayviewhealth.com.au.