Permeation of the sterilising agent in bags: a simplified routine evaluation method

5 October 2010

S. Edet, R. Vazquez, M.N. Guerrault-Moro, D. Brossard, S. Crauste-Manciet Centre Hospitalier Poissy-Saint Germain en Laye, Service Pharmacie, Saint Germain en Laye, France

Isolator sterilisation processes use peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These agents have toxic and oxidizing properties and must not therefore be present in the preparations made in the isolator. The permeability of the bags depends on the nature of the polymer but also on the sterilisation conditions [1] [2] . The aim of this study is to implement a simple and transposable quantification method that can be adapted to all hospital pharmacies (PUI) making it possible to evidence and quantify the permeation of peracetic acid or H2O2.

The quantification method selected is based on the oxidation of ferrous iron into ferric iron by the H2O2 (Peroxidetect®). Quantification was performed by complexation of the ferric iron with the xylenol orange, detected by UV spectrometry UV (574 – 586 nm). The method was validated according to the recommendations of the SFSTP [3]. The permeation of the H2O2 (Soproper®) was studied in bags in PVC (Easyflex®), in polyolefin (Macoflex®) and in a two-layer barrier bag EVA/EVOH [Ethylene Vinyl Acetate /Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer] (Nutripoche®Barrière) sterilised with and without their outer (n = 3). The tests were performed according to 2 different sterilisation conditions:

For the JCE® isolator, analyses were performed after 1, 2 and 3 sterilisation cycles.
The method was linear from 100 to 1000 µg/l, exact (confidence interval at 95 %: 95.6 – 104.2 %) and faithful (variation coefficient for repeatability: 5.6 %).
The quantification threshold was 100 µg/l.
For all the polymers, the outer pack of the bags enabled prevention of permeability to H2O2.

The quantifiable absence of any permeation of H2O2 after 2 and 3 sterilisation cycles into the sterilised bags with an outer makes it possible to validate in our conditions their re-sterilisation if necessary.
This study made it possible to implement a simple, fast method enabling the detection of traces of the sterilising agent in different types of bag and enables the implementation of validation of routine processes upon any change in the products used.

[1Escalup, L. ; Crauste-Manciet, S. ; Richard, L. ; Brossard, D. Chemical sterilization with peracetic acid: permeation risks inside parenteral infusion fluid. J. Parenteral Drug Assoc. 2001, 55, 24-32

[2Schlatter, J.; Bertrand, F.; Saulnier, J. L. Vaporised peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide mixture into polyvinylchloride and polyethylene bags. J. Pharm. Clin. 1999, 18, 218-221

[3Caporal-Gautier, J. ; Nivet, J.M. ; Algranti, P., Guilloteau, M. ; Histe, M. ; Lallier, M. ; N’Guyen-Huu, J.J. ; Russotto R. French Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Techniques. Analytical validation guide: report of an SFSTO commission. S.T.P. Pharma Pratiques, 1992, 2(4), 227-239

Discussion forum

GERPAC provides for its members a discussion forum specifically devoted to technology in hospital pharmacy

Access forum

GERPAC
Association Loi 1901
Siège social : Chez Jean-Yves Jomier / 8ter rue Léon Bussat, 64000 PAU
Immatriculation formation N° 72 64 035 30 64
Contact us Legal notes - Management of personal data
Réalisation studiomaiis.net : Développeur web WordPress & SPIP freelance