The need for contained handling and processing of pharmaceuticals started to rise significantly about 15 years ago. Reasons were an increased focus on health and safety aspects and also the development of more high potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPI’s). The response by the pharmaceutical equipment suppliers has resulted in market improvements in the containment levels achievable, using both established solids-handling equipment, and new innovative techniques.

The selection of suitable equipment at the right place however requires an in depth understanding of certain containment aspects. Firstly to assure that the chosen equipment performs in the required level, but also, and this is important from the investment aspect, to prevent an expensive and unnecessary potential “Overkill“.

The following article describes containment aspects like product specific exposure limits, equipment related real exposure values and finally the correlation between these two. Only when these aspects are brought together in the right way, can we speak of a tailor made containment solution.