Chemotherapy Solutions
Tested for resistance to over 50 hazardous chemo drugs
THERE IS NO SAFE LEVEL OF EXPOSURE TO CYTOTOXIC CHEMO DRUGS FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
Eight million healthcare workers are exposed to hazardous drugs each year1 - increasing their risk of chromosomal damage, adverse reproductive outcomes and cancers2. That’s why it’s essential to provide staff with chemo-rated PPE
Spotlight
The highest level of chemotherapy protection available in our line of nitrile exam gloves.
Tested for use with chemotherapy drugs and also meets liquid barrier performance standards
How Tested is Your PPE?
Halyard offers some of the most extensively chemo-tested gloves and gowns available—far more than indicated for most competitive gowns and gloves.
PURPLE NITRILE-XTRA* Gloves meet ASTM D6978-05 (Standard Practice for Assessment of Resistance of Medical Gloves to Permeation by Chemotherapy Drugs), as well as OSHA, ASHP and ONS recommendations.
HALYARD* Procedure Gowns for Use with Chemotherapy Drugs meet OSHA, ASHP and ONS recommendations, as well as ASTM liquid barrier standards F1670 and F1671
With the health of your staff at risk, it’s essential to follow industry protective equipment guidelines:
Guidelines published by the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provide specific recommendations for type and duration of use of chemotherapy PPE, to provide optimum protection.
GLOVE GUIDELINES
Usage: Gloves should be worn for all activities involving chemotherapy drugs, including compounding, administration, the handling of waste from recently treated patients, and clean-up of spills.
Type: Select disposable, chemotherapy-qualified, powder-free gloves that extend over the gown cuffs.4,5,6,7
- If double-gloving, one pair should be worn under the gown cuff and the other worn over the gown cuff.
- If single-gloving, the gloves should be worn over the gown cuff.
Duration:
When compounding, change gloves every 30 minutes. OSHA recommends changing gloves every hour when working with cytotoxic drugs.
- For all other activities, change gloves after each use or 30 minutes of wear. 4
- For all activities, change gloves immediately when damaged or contaminated. 4,5,6
GOWN GUIDELINES†
Usage: Gowns should be worn during all activities involving chemotherapy drugs, including compounding, administration, the handling of waste from recently treated patients, and clean-up of spills.
Type: Select a disposable, lint-free gown made from low-permeability fabric, with a solid front, long sleeves, and elastic or knit cuffs.4,5,6,7
Duration:
- When compounding, gowns must be worn no longer than three hours; change gowns before leaving drug prep area.4,5,7
- In all cases, change gowns after handling drugs. 4,5
- For all activities, change gowns immediately if damaged or contaminated.4,5
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hazardous Drug Exposures in Health Care, www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hazdrug/default.html
2 Polovich M. Chemotherapy Safe Handling: What You Need to Know. 2015. www.accc-cancer.org/ossn_network/NC/presentations/NCOA-12-18-15-Chemo-safe-handling-webinar.pdf
3 Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings, 2016 DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2016-161 (Supersedes 2014-138), www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2016-161
4 Oncology Nursing Society (ONS): Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice 2005.
5 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP): Guidelines on Handling Hazardous Drugs. Am J.Health-Syst Pharm 2006; 63:1172-93.
6. Occupational Safety and Administration (OSHA): Controlling Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs.
7. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): Preventing Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings, September 2004-165.
† When wearing protective apparel during contact with other chemicals and reagents, users should always review the corresponding material safety data sheets to determine the required level of protection the apparel should provide.
†† It is also important to note that resistance to permeation is the only Governmental requirement for making a claim that gloves can be used with chemotherapy drugs. It is up to each facility to review guidelines published by professional associations in establishing their own chemotherapy and general hazardous drug glove usage policy.
