Semiautomated aseptic preparation of patient-individual antineoplastic intravenous solutions: first experiences in a German hospital pharmacy

Abstract

Objectives In 2013, the PharmaHelp device was introduced to daily patient care at the University Hospital of Heidelberg in order to improve process and staff safety and health. It is a semiautomated device located in a safety workbench for aseptic preparation with weight-and-visual-supported process check as well as radio-frequency identification of bags and vials. Methods After qualification and a training period, several high-admixture-volume drugs were chosen stepwise to be prepared by the device. During a reporting period of 6 months, the number of processed production runs and produced bags were assessed as well as the productivity per hour of the device based on the processed admixing volume and time consumption for manual preprocessing and postprocessing steps. Results Weight conformity tests of 246 processed bags in 11 admixing-volume ranges showed 99.19% with a deviation of Conclusions The automated admixing process of the device showed remarkable effectivity and a satisfying accuracy, but the manual preprocessing and postprocessing steps are time consuming, which is associated with the local environment, and has to be reorganised.