In a study published in the November 15th, 2003, edition of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, clinicians from the University of Utah report that they reduced employee exposure and surface contamination in the chemotherapy infusion center of the Huntsman Cancer Institute by using PhaSeal, a closed system for hazardous drug preparation and administration.

The study, entitled "Using PhaSeal to Reduce Personnel and Surface Contamination to Chemotherapy," documented the biological uptake of cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide in infusion center pharmacy and nursing staff despite their use of standard precautions and guidelines for safe handling. Six months following the adoption of the PhaSeal System, the presence of these two drugs in urine samples from center personnel was reduced to undetectable levels. The study also showed that drug contamination initially detected on infusion center surfaces was significantly reduced following implementation of the PhaSeal System.

"As a result of our study, we've now extended the use of the PhaSeal System from Huntsman to everywhere within the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics where cancer chemotherapy is handled and prepared," says James Jorgenson, RPh, MS, one of the study's authors and Director of Pharmacy and Associate Dean for Professional Affairs at the University of Utah.

Baseline measurements of personnel exposure to the chemotherapy drugs cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide were made in January 2002 in the Huntsman Cancer Institute's chemotherapy infusion center and pharmacy. Surface contamination was measured by collecting wipe samples of selected facility and equipment surfaces. These measurements yielded positive results for all samples.

Urine samples were collected from infusion center pharmacy and nursing personnel at the same time. Test results indicated that there had been biological uptake of the two drugs in infusion center nursing and pharmacy staff.

"These positive results surprised us for two reasons," says Mr. Jorgenson. "First, Huntsman opened in November 2000, so it was virtually a brand new facility with state-of-the-art equipment and staff training. Second, the only chemotherapy exposure for the pharmacy technician who tested positive was checking in and shelving the daily drug order."

Following the baseline tests, the PhaSeal closed-loop drug containment system was implemented in the chemotherapy infusion center, while continuing the preparation and administration safeguards already in use. Six months later, in June 2002, the urine and surface wipe tests were repeated. These results demonstrated that after six months of PhaSeal use, the two chemotherapy drugs were no longer detectable in urine samples and surface contamination was significantly reduced.

A special assay method was designed for this study to detect both drugs in a single sample using mass-spectrometry with liquid chromatography.

Baxa manufactures and markets healthcare products for use in hospitals, critical care units and alternate-site pharmacies.

The PhaSeal System is manufactured in Sweden by Carmel Pharma of Goteborg, Sweden.