Quality Control: Personal Protective Equipment for Use When Handling Hazardous Drugs.

United States Pharmacopeia Chapter <800>, concerned with the handling of hazardous drugs in healthcare settings, requires that any entity handling such drugs maintain a hazardous drug list. While this list must include any drug found on the latest NIOSH List of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Settings, entities are expected to include other drugs and substances of concern. The intent of this article is to provide concrete information concerning articles of personal protective equipment, as well as guidance as to where and how they should be donned, used, and removed. This information will cover every aspect of handling hazardous drugs from receipt to disposal, most certainly including both sterile and nonsterile compounding.