What must be done to critical sites in the laminar airflow workbench?

In a laminar airflow workbench, critical sites are areas that have direct exposure to the sterile environment and are crucial for maintaining aseptic conditions during sterile compounding. Wiping these critical sites with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is essential for effective disinfection and removal of contaminants.

70% IPA is widely used in sterile compounding because it has been shown to effectively reduce microbial load on surfaces without leaving a residue that could interfere with sterilization processes. This practice helps minimize the risk of contamination, ensuring that the compounded sterile preparations are safe for patient use.

Other procedures, such as discarding items or rinsing with water, do not adequately maintain the sterility required in a compounding environment. Water, for instance, can introduce pathogens and is not suitable for use in critical aseptic areas. Therefore, regular sanitation of critical sites with 70% IPA is a standard practice to ensure a sterile environment necessary for safe drug preparation.