Environmental Monitoring

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Purpose of Environmental Monitoring

Critical process within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Determines the microbial and particulate content of cleanroom air and surfaces. Highlights conditions contributing to excessive microbial & particulate levels due to ineffective cleaning, or personnel/equipment issues (Trending). Alerts to conditions exceeding classifications Pro-active tool for Quality Assurance
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Who Does It?

Quality Control
Demonstrate product safety Environmental Monitoring Testing

Quality Assurance
Oversight responsibilities ensure compliance with GMPs Review and Approve all Records, Reports, written procedures, specifications Audit methods, results, systems and processes
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Classifications
Critical Environment Classification
FS 209E N/A N/A 1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 ISO 14644-1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Concentration (particles/meter) > or = Size Shown

0.1 m 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000 0.2 m 2 24 237 2,370 23,700 237,000 10 102 1,020 10,200 102,000 4 35 352 3,520 35,200 352,000 3,520,000 8 83 832 8,320 83,200 832,000 29 293 2,930 29,300 0.3 m 0.5 m 1.0 m 5.0 m

N/A

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35,200,000

8,320,000

293,000

To be monitored
Non-viable airborne particulates Viable airborn particulates Viable surface bound particulates on cleanroom surfaces and personnel
Contamination Sources: People ~75% Ventilation ~15% Room Structure ~5% Equipment ~5%
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Particle Counter
(Measures non-viable airborne particles)
Non-Viable Particulate Monitoring - ISO 14644, Fed Std-209E, USP <1116> A calibrated laser particle counter
used to sample a defined volume of air. Can measure a variety of particle sizes, most commonly 0.5 and 5.0 micron. Particle counts are recorded as the number of particles per volume of air sampled. Results can be reported per cubic foot, per FDSTD 209E, or per cubic meter, per ISO 14644.
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Particle Counters
Handheld are ideal for spot checking. Important for tracking down a source of contamination, testing filters, and verifying the cleanroom is working within specified parameters.

UF http://www.particlecounters.org/cleanroom/#moreinfo

Settling Plates (Viable airborne particulates)

Passive Air Monitoring ISO 14644, Fed Std209E, USP <1116> Settling plates filled with media are used to sample the microbial fallout over time. The plates are incubated to promote growth Microorganisms are counted and results are reported as the number of CFU (colony forming units) per time sampled.
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Settling Plates
In the absence of any kind of influence, airborne microorganisms, typically attached to larger particles, will deposit onto open culture plates. Microorganisms are usually found in the air of occupied rooms rafted onto skin cells. Very few present on their own. The average size of microbial particle will deposit, by gravity, onto surfaces at a rate of approximately 1 cm/s.
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Sample Locations for Settling Plates

Areas where there is little air movement (i.e. "dead spaces") or where airflows converge or are excessively turbulent. These conditions are most likely to occur:
adjacent to doors in pass through hatches at low level return air grilles between HEPA's in clean rooms in corners of rooms

Areas within the clean room where there is personnel activity or where specific operations are carried out.
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Particle Characteristics
50 micron particles are visible Average human hair is about 100 microns Time to fall 1 meter in still air
33 seconds for 10 micron particle 48 minutes for 1 micron particle

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Air Sampler (Viable airborne particulates)

Viable Particulate Air Monitoring - ISO 14644, Fed Std-209E, USP <1116> Used to sample a defined volume of air, embedding viable particulates onto sterile media strips. The media strips are incubated to promote the growth of viable particulates The microorganisms are counted and results are reported as the number of CFU (colony forming units) per volume of air sampled.
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RODAC Plates
(Viable, Surface-Bound Particles)
Surface Monitoring - ISO 14644, Fed Std209E, USP <1116> Contact plates (RODAC Plates) filled with media are used to sample tabletops, walls, benches, floors, garments, and gowned personnel. Measure the number of microorganisms per area sampled. Plates are incubated to promote growth, the microorganisms are counted and results are reported as the number of CFU (colony forming units) per area sampled.
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RODAC:
Replicate Organism Detection and Counting.

flat agar surface is above the edges of the dish (so you can press it on flat surfaces) and a grid, allowing counting of cfu per cm.

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Personnel gown monitoring

RODAC plates are also used to monitor the contamination level of personnel gowns and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before or during manufacturing production.

http://www.microcln.com/html/EnvironMonitoring.htm UF

Rodac Plates
One objective of surface sampling is to determine the efficiency of routine cleaning procedures in removing contamination. Sampling is done before and after cleaning. The medium in the plates contains neutralizing agents, which inactivate residual disinfectants on the surface to be tested, allowing comparative results before and after cleaning.

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Viable Particle Testing

(Settling Plates, Air Samplers, RODAC Plates)
Use a growth medium with low selectivity i.e. capable of supporting a broad spectrum of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, yeast and molds.
TSA (Tryptone Soya Agar) supports general microbial colonies. SDA (Sabouraud Dextrose Agar) supports yeast and fungal colonies.
TSA plates are incubated at 30-35C for 3 days SDA plates are incubated at 20-25C for 5 days.

When necessary to detect or search for a particular type of microorganism a selective culture medium should be used.
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Positive and Negative Controls

Typically two positive controls and two negative controls
Positive:
B. Subitilis (Bacteria) C. albicans (Fungus)

Negative:
Unopened Plate Real Time = Opened and immediately shut

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Time of Testing
Sampling should take place with the facility in the operational condition (personnel present and normal operations being carried out). The operational condition for sterile hoods and transfer devices can be considered to be when an operator is working in any part of the clean air device. Sampling in the static condition should be performed at an agreed frequency to monitor baseline contamination levels.
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Frequency of Testing
For Class 10,000 and Class 100,000 Rooms Type of Monitoring Areas to be Monitored Class 10,000 Class 100,000 Class 10,000 Class 100,000 Class 10,000 Class 100,000 Interior, Class 10,000
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Method Particle Counter Settling Plates Rodac Plates Rodac Plates

Frequency Weekly Weekly Monthly Monthly Weekly Weekly Weekly Weekly

Non-Viable Particulates Viable Airborne Particulates Viable Surface Monitoring Incubator Centrifuge

Interior, Class Rodac Plate 10,000

Personnel Monitoring (Frequency)

Type of Monitoring Method Frequency After all Vialing operations and once/month random After all Vialing operations and once/month random After all Vialing operations and once/month random After all Vialing operations and once/month random

Right hand (two fingertips) Rodac Plates Left hand (two fingertips) Right Sleeve Left Sleeve Rodac Plates Rodac Plates Rodac Plates

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How many samples?

The number of sampling locations is based on the size of the room. Determining the number of sampling locations is based on the formula:

nL = A
nL is the minimum number of sampling locations (round up to the next whole number), and A is the floor area of the cleanroom in m.

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How Many Samples?

The sample locations should be evenly distributed within the area under test. A site plan should be prepared indicating sampling locations.

nL = A 15 ft x 12 ft = 180 ft2 10.69 ft2 = 1m2 180 ft2/10.69ft2/m2 = 16.83 m2 = 17 sample locations

12 ft
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15 ft.

Out of Specification?
Alert Level alert levels are quality levels that, when exceeded, signal a possible deviation from normal operating conditions and may not require action, but may need to be monitored more closely. Action Level action levels are quality levels that, when exceeded, signal an apparent deviation from normal operating conditions and requires immediate action.
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Alert & Action Levels

Air Classification

Alert Level
100

Non Viable Particulate Count (0.5 m particles/ft ) 50 (at rest) 80 (operational)

3

Rodac Plate Surface Counts (cfu/plate) 2

Settling Plates (cfu/14cm plate) 1

10,000 100,000
Air Classification

8000 80,000
Non Viable Particulate Count (0.5 m particles/ft ) 99 (at rest) 9999
3

4 5
Rodac Plate Surface Counts (cfu/plate) 3 5 10 for floors 20 floors dirty side UF

3 5
Settling Plates (cfu/14cm plate) 2 5

Action Level
100 10,000

100,000

99999

30 for floors

20

Personnel Monitoring
Sample site
Hand Sleeve

Alert
1/plate 1/plate

Action
3/plate 3/plate

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Actions to take when levels are breached

Identify
Possible cause Contaminating microorganisms

Investigate
Whether isolated sample or whole area involved Personnel - operator status (grade), level of training, health, technique, wash up Cleaning procedures Changing procedure HEPA filter integrity of room/clean air device Processes carried out Previous test results for trends or other identified problems.

Liase with
Aseptic personnel Microbiology personnel QA/QC personnel
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0438229. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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