C-PEC stands for

• A. Containment Secondary Engineering Control - separate externally vented room / CASA
• B. Closed-System Transfer Device
• C. Containment Primary Engineering Control - BSC / machine
• D. Containment Ventilated Exposure

Answer: (C)

In hazardous drug compounding, containment is organized into primary and secondary engineering controls. The device where the drug is directly prepared and contained is the primary engineering control, providing the first line of protection for the operator. C-PEC stands for Containment Primary Engineering Control, such as a biological safety cabinet or a containment isolator, which directly houses the compounding process and uses filtration and controlled airflow to prevent exposure. This is distinct from the secondary engineering control, which is the surrounding room or space that houses the PEC and is designed to provide additional containment (often with negative pressure and external exhaust). The term described here is specifically about the containment enclosure used during preparation, not transfer devices or other concepts.