What defines a buffer room in sterile compounding?

A buffer room in sterile compounding is defined as an area that maintains specific environmental controls to ensure the safety and sterility of compounded sterile preparations. This area is classified as an ISO class 7 or cleaner room, which means it has stringent air cleanliness requirements.

In this controlled environment, the air quality must be maintained to minimize particulate contamination and microbial growth, which is essential to protect the integrity of sterile products. This allows for the operation of primary engineering controls (PECs), such as laminar airflow hoods or cleanrooms, where actual compounding takes place. The buffer room acts as a transitional space between the cleanroom with the PEC and the rest of the pharmacy environment, ensuring that the conditions are consistently monitored and maintained.

This contrasts with the other options, which do not accurately capture the purpose and standards of a buffer room. Unclean surfaces would compromise sterility, while a storage area focuses on post-compounding, and administrative tasks do not relate to the direct compounding environment required for sterile preparations. The definition of a buffer room is crucial for ensuring compliance with sterility standards in pharmacy practice.