Which of the following is an acceptable C-PEC for sterile compounding?

• A. Laminar Air Flow Workbench
• B. Compounding Aseptic Isolator
• C. Class 2 or 3 BSC; CACI
• D. Class 1 BSC

Answer: (C)

In sterile compounding of hazardous drugs, the primary engineering control must provide containment to protect the worker and the surrounding environment, using equipment designed to keep aerosols and spills from escaping. A Class II BSC provides HEPA-filtered air and containment with directed airflow, and a Class III BSC offers a sealed, gas-tight environment with external HEPA exhaust—both are solid choices for a C-PEC when handling hazardous drugs. Containment Aseptic Isolators (CAI) and Containment Aseptic Containment Isolators (CACI) isolate the compounding workspace from the surrounding area and operate under negative pressure, further reducing exposure risk; these are also acceptable C-PEC options for sterile HD work. Laminar Air Flow Workbenches, while useful for nonhazardous sterile compounding, do not provide the necessary containment against hazardous drugs, and Class 1 BSCs do not meet current containment requirements. Therefore, the best choice is the option that includes a Class II or Class III BSC or a containment isolator (CAI/CACI) as acceptable C-PECs for sterile compounding.