Which devices are considered unacceptable PECs for sterile compounding?

• A. Class 2 or 3 BSC (higher class = sterile) / CACI
• B. Laminar Airflow Workbench (LAFW) / compounding aseptic isolator (CAI)
• C. CVE / CVE
• D. Class 3 BSC

Answer: (B)

In sterile compounding, the primary engineering control (PEC) must provide a sterile environment and, when hazardous drugs are involved, adequate containment to protect both the product and the worker. A Laminar Airflow Workbench (LAFW) mainly offers directional clean air to keep the product sterile but it relies on room air and does not create a sealed containment barrier. That means aerosols or spills of hazardous drugs could escape into the room, exposing staff and the surrounding environment.

A compounding aseptic isolator (CAI) is a sealed enclosure that isolates the work from the room, which helps protect the product, but it does not meet the containment and air-handling requirements required for hazardous drug preparation in many standards. For hazardous drugs, containment principles call for more robust PECs such as Class II or Class III biosafety cabinets or containment isolators designed specifically to contain exposure risks.

Because these two devices do not provide the necessary containment for hazardous drug sterile compounding, they are considered unacceptable PECs in that context.