Which of the following are acceptable C-PECs for sterile compounding?

• A. Class 2 or 3 BSC (higher class = sterile) / CACI
• B. Laminar Airflow Workbench (LAFW) / CAI
• C. Class 1 BSC / CVE / CACI
• D. Laminar Airflow Workbench only

Answer: (A)

For sterile compounding of hazardous drugs, the work area must provide both sterility of the product and containment of exposure to the personnel. Class II BSCs (and the higher Class III, glovebox-style units) offer this through directed, HEPA-filtered airflow and controlled negative pressure, protecting the product and the worker. Containment Aseptic Isolators (CAI) and Containment Aseptic Containment Isolators (CACI) are purpose-built enclosures that maintain a contained, negative-pressure environment for sterile manipulations, preventing release of hazardous drugs into the surrounding room.

So, the combination of a Class II or Class III BSC with a CACI represents the correct approach to acceptable C-PECs for sterile sterile compounding, because it covers both sterility and containment. Laminar airflow workbenches do not provide adequate containment for hazardous drugs and are not suitable as C-PECs for this purpose. A Class 1 BSC is not appropriate due to insufficient containment and filtration, and relying on a laminar airflow workflow alone does not meet the containment requirements.