Abstract:
Environmental monitoring is an essential role in ensuring the cleanliness of the environment in a manufacturing operation, especially in the production of parenteral products. To minimize the risk of microbial and particle contamination, a routine environmental monitoring program must be established. This study was to develop a risk-based environmental monitoring program for the filling division of the parenteral cleanroom, Plasma Fractionation Centre, The Thai Red Cross Society. The quality risk management approach of the International Council for Harmonization Q9 guideline was used, with a risk ranking and filtering tool to determine the frequency and sampling locations of monitoring program in 13 rooms. In risk identification step, potential factors of microbial contamination were identified using a fishbone diagram. Followed by risk analysis step, factors affecting the quality and safety of the product were selected in terms of the severity and probability of contamination risk. Manufacturing activity, duration of activity, process step, equipment design, cleaning and disinfection frequency, environmental monitoring history, number of personnel and water supply were investigated. Criteria and score range of 4 severity factors and 6 probability factors were defined and evaluated by the risk assessment team to calculate risk criticality. The sum of score for each severity and probability factor can be divided into 5 levels of the risk criticality and was expressed by risk matrix. The risk-based approach led to a new environmental monitoring program with 5, 1 and 7 rooms to be monitored weekly, bi-weekly and quarterly, respectively. While sampling was conducted at 26, 26, 29 and 33 locations for non-viable particles, volumetric air sampling, settle plates, and contact plates, respectively. In the risk review step, the implementation of the new monitoring program showed no impact on the quality of the product or contamination levels in the cleanroom, based on the successful percentage of contamination recovery rate (CRR) in all viable particle tests. Overall, the success of an environmental monitoring program will depend on the effectiveness of its risk assessment, monitoring techniques, and data analysis. It is important to continuously evaluate and improve the program to ensure that the manufacturing environment is maintained in a state of control.