Equipment, supplies, and facilites required for hospital compounding

According to United States Pharmacopeia Chapter 795, the compounding area should have adequate space to store and organize all equipment, supplies, and chemicals to prevent mix-ups between ingredients, containers, labels, in-process materials, and finished preparations, and the area should be arranged in such a manner to prevent cross-contamination. Also, there should be adequate space for each compounder to safely and efficiently compound each preparation. The ASHP Technical Assistance Bulletin on Compounding Non-Sterile Products in Pharmacies states that a separate facility is not required for compounding activites. Those guidelines state, however, that the compounding area should be isolated from potential interruptions, chemical contaminants, and sources of dust and particulate matter. Guides to general physical requirements for compounding laboratories are easily accessible, and hospital pharmacy administrators should make themselves aware of all standards and guidelines for compounding and reackaging, because these activities require specialized equipment, supplies, and facilites different than those needed by other services of the hospital pharmacy department. The large proportion of hospitalized patients who are unable to take some commercial drug products and therefore need compounded preparations is evidence of the need for an adequate compounding area.