Chemotherapy Compounding Course

Lesson 1 • Hazardous Drug Designation Criteria

Defines what qualifies a drug as hazardous based on carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and reproductive toxicity. Establishes the regulatory rationale for specialized compounding controls.

Lesson 2 • Pharmacokinetics of Cytotoxic Drugs

Examines absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion specific to cytotoxic agents. Grounds dosing calculations and stability assessments in pharmacokinetic principles.

Lesson 3 • Chemotherapy Drug Classifications

Categorizes agents by mechanism: alkylating agents, antimetabolites, topoisomerase inhibitors, and biologics. Connects drug class to compounding risk profile.

Lesson 1 • Documentation and Record-Keeping Requirements

Specifies mandatory records for compounding logs, training, and environmental testing. Demonstrates how accurate documentation supports regulatory inspections and error investigations.

Lesson 2 • Quality Assurance and Audit Processes

Introduces internal audit tools, corrective action plans, and continuous improvement cycles. Prepares students to conduct and respond to compliance audits effectively.

Lesson 3 • Governing Bodies and Compounding Standards

Identifies national pharmacy compounding standards bodies and their enforceable guidelines. Clarifies how federal oversight, state boards, and accreditation bodies interact.

Lesson 4 • Hazardous Drug Handling Regulations

Covers occupational safety regulations for hazardous drug exposure, including engineering controls and medical surveillance. Establishes employer and employee compliance obligations.

Lesson 1 • Cleanroom Classifications and Layout

Explains ISO classifications, anteroom requirements, and buffer room design for hazardous drug compounding. Connects spatial layout to contamination prevention strategy.

Lesson 2 • Primary Engineering Controls for Hazardous Drugs

Covers biological safety cabinets, compounding aseptic containment isolators, and closed-system transfer devices. Distinguishes each device by containment mechanism and appropriate use case.

Lesson 3 • Facility Maintenance and Certification

Outlines scheduled certification of primary engineering controls, cleanroom recertification intervals, and maintenance logs. Ensures students can manage ongoing facility compliance.

Lesson 4 • HVAC and Airflow Management

Details HEPA filtration, air change rates, and pressure differential requirements for hazardous drug areas. Explains how airflow failures create contamination and exposure risks.

Lesson 1 • Donning and Doffing Procedures

Teaches the correct sequence for putting on and removing PPE to prevent self-contamination. Reinforces hand hygiene integration at each transition point.

Lesson 2 • PPE Selection for Hazardous Drug Work

Identifies chemotherapy-rated gloves, gowns, respirators, and eye protection by performance standard. Matches PPE type to specific compounding task and exposure risk level.

Lesson 3 • Spill Management and Decontamination

Covers spill kit contents, containment procedures, and decontamination agent selection for chemotherapy spills. Prepares students to respond safely and document incidents correctly.

Lesson 4 • Closed-System Transfer Device Use

Demonstrates proper assembly, priming, and disconnection of closed-system transfer devices during drug preparation. Explains how device use reduces aerosol and surface contamination.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Aseptic Technique

Defines critical sites, critical areas, and first-air principles within primary engineering controls. Establishes the conceptual foundation for all sterile manipulation procedures.

Lesson 2 • Hand Hygiene and Garbing for Sterile Work

Details surgical hand scrub and alcohol-based hand rub protocols specific to sterile compounding entry. Connects garbing order to contamination risk reduction in the cleanroom.

Lesson 3 • Vial and Ampule Manipulation

Teaches needle insertion angles, vial pressure equalization, and ampule opening techniques for cytotoxic drugs. Emphasizes containment strategies unique to hazardous drug vials.

Lesson 4 • Syringe and IV Bag Preparation

Covers accurate syringe filling, air bubble removal, and aseptic transfer into IV bags for chemotherapy doses. Addresses labeling and visual inspection before release.

Lesson 1 • Diluent Selection and Compatibility

Identifies appropriate diluents for common chemotherapy agents and explains incompatibility consequences. Guides students in using compatibility references for formulation decisions.

Lesson 2 • Body Surface Area and Weight-Based Dosing

Explains BSA calculation methods and mg/kg dosing for cytotoxic agents. Addresses dose capping, rounding rules, and pediatric versus adult dosing differences.

Lesson 3 • Label Accuracy and Final Verification

Defines required label elements for chemotherapy preparations and the pharmacist verification workflow. Emphasizes independent double-check systems to prevent dose errors.

Lesson 4 • Stability and Beyond-Use Dating

Applies stability data to assign beyond-use dates for reconstituted and diluted chemotherapy preparations. Distinguishes manufacturer stability from compounding-specific beyond-use limits.

Lesson 1 • Final Product Release Testing

Outlines sterility testing, endotoxin testing, and visual inspection requirements before product release. Connects release criteria to patient safety and regulatory compliance.

Lesson 2 • Batch Preparation and Workflow Sequencing

Organizes multi-product batch preparation to minimize cross-contamination and sequencing errors. Applies lean workflow principles to improve efficiency without compromising safety.

Lesson 3 • Ingredient Verification and Weighing

Covers raw material receipt, identity testing, and gravimetric verification before compounding begins. Prevents ingredient errors that could result in subpotent or superpotent doses.

Lesson 4 • In-Process Quality Checks

Defines checkpoints during compounding for volume, appearance, and pH verification. Establishes how in-process controls catch errors before final product release.

Lesson 1 • Independent Double-Check Systems

Explains the design and execution of independent double-checks for dose, drug, and route verification. Distinguishes effective independent checks from ineffective dependent checks.

Lesson 2 • Patient Counseling and Caregiver Safety

Prepares compounding staff to communicate safe handling instructions to patients and caregivers receiving oral or home-infusion chemotherapy. Addresses caregiver exposure prevention.

Lesson 3 • Technology-Assisted Error Prevention

Covers barcode medication administration, gravimetric compounding systems, and automated dispensing controls. Evaluates how technology layers reduce but do not eliminate human error.

Lesson 4 • High-Alert Drug Safety Principles

Defines high-alert drug characteristics and the disproportionate harm potential of chemotherapy errors. Introduces standardized safety practices specific to cytotoxic agents.