IV room practice - Decapper

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Thu, 12/03/2015 - 10:39
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Bridget Gegorski
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Joined: 09/19/2014 - 14:47
IV room practice - Decapper

Hello,

I am inquiring about a specific IV room practice. We have a technician who likes to use the Decapper Pliers to remove the top rubber stopper portion from the IV vial when preparing IV products in the hood. And a pharmacist who is vehemently against this practice.

The tech is effectively turning the vial into an ampule, and the vial is used for a single dose. However, it does add an extra step to the compounding process and creates an open system (even if it is being done in the hood).

I cannot find any articles in support or against this practice. Does anyone have any information or an opinion in regards to this?

(here is a link to the item if you are unfamiliar with it: http://shop.gohcl.com/default.aspx?page=item%20detail&itemcode=7773 )

Bridget Gegorski, Pharm.D.
Medication Safety Officer
University Hospitals Office: 216-983-1307
11100 Euclid Ave Fax: 216-844-3052
Cleveland, Ohio 44106 Mail Stop: WRN 5006
Bridget.Gegorski@UHHospitals.org

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