Transport of Hazardous Drugs

Implementation Date: 11/2021

Date of Last Revision: 6/24/2023

Next Review Due: 6/23/2026

 

Reviewed by VTH Administrative Team: 11/2021

Reviewed by VTH Board: N/A

 

Reviewed & Approved by Hospital Director: 11/2021

Reviewed by Biosecurity Subcommittee: N/A

Subject to modification by the VTH Director without approval.

Policy

The intent of this policy is to define the process of transporting hazardous drugs safely within the VTH. This is applicable to all personnel involved in the transport of hazardous drugs.

Personnel must don appropriate PPE when handling and transporting hazardous drugs in accordance with regulations and hospital policy.

Guidelines

1. Required PPE (gloves) must be worn when handling and transporting hazardous drugs. All individuals transporting HDs must have safety training that includes spill control and have spill kits immediately accessible.
   
   
2. Drugs that have been identified as hazardous or requiring safe handling precautions must be clearly labeled during their transport. HDs must be transported in packaging or containers that minimize the risk of breakage, leakage, contamination, and degradation and provide protection for healthcare workers. Any transport carts must be designed with guards to protect against falling and breakage. Transport containers must be clearly labeled as containing HDs.
   
   
3. All chemotherapy drugs will leave the dispensary in chemo bags.
   
   
4. In the state of Illinois, the Dispensary is allowed to mail prescription hazardous drugs. Drugs must be labeled correctly with any applicable specific warnings, in a yellow chemo bag (if necessary), and packaged suitable for transport.

*Dispensary has been evaluated for our currently stocked items that may be shipped and do not require any additional precautions*

Procedure (if applicable)

1. Use the pass-through chamber between the negative-pressure buffer area and adjacent space to transport HDs and waste in and out of the buffer room to minimize contamination. The pass-through chamber must be included in the facility’s certification to ensure that particles are not compromising the air quality in the negative-pressure buffer room.
   
   
2. Place all chemotherapy agents into chemotherapy bags prior to dispensing.  Each bag may only contain one patient’s medication(s).
   
   

Definitions (if applicable)

HD: Hazardous Drug

PPE: Personal Protective Equipment

Pass-through chamber: Interlocking door mechanism of a cleanroom to offer protection against possible airborne contamination and from loss of pressure inside the cleanroom environment. Also provides an efficient way to transport material without having to go through the gowning process.

Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH): The collective clinical services of the Large Animal Clinic, Midwest Equine, the Small Animal Clinic, and the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic.