The C-PEC must be decontaminated before and after certification. True or False?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. It depends

Answer: (A)

Decontaminating the C-PEC before and after certification is essential to ensure both accurate testing and a safe work environment. Certification evaluates how well the primary engineering control contains hazardous drugs—its airflow, containment, and cleanliness. If residues or disinfectants are already present inside the C-PEC, they can interfere with test media, particle counts, or airflow measurements, giving a distorted picture of the unit’s true performance. Cleaning and decontaminating beforehand removes these residues so the certification results reflect how the equipment will perform during actual use. After certification, decontamination clears away any residues deposited during testing and ensures the C-PEC is safe for routine compounding, protecting staff from hazardous drug exposure. In practice, a validated cleaning/decontamination protocol with an appropriate sporicidal agent and proper contact time is followed both prior to and after certification.