This work was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments

<ol>
	<li>Cundell, T., Atkins, J. W., Lau, A. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sterility+testing+for+hematopoietic+stem+cells.">Sterility testing for hematopoietic stem cells.</a> Journal of Clinical Microbiology. , (2023).</li><li>United States Food and Drug Administration. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Guidance+for+Industry.+Sterile+Drug+Products+Produced+by+Aseptic+Processing+-+Current+Good+Manufacturing+Practice.">Guidance for Industry. Sterile Drug Products Produced by Aseptic Processing - Current Good Manufacturing Practice.</a> United States Food and Drug Administration. , (2004).</li><li>United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=USP&lt;71&gt;+Sterility+Tests+in+USP43-NF38.">USP&lt;71&gt; Sterility Tests in USP43-NF38.</a> United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. , (2022).</li><li>England, M. R., Stock, F., Gebo, J. E. T., Frank, K. M., Lau, A. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comprehensive+evaluation+of+compendial+USP&lt;71&gt;,+BacT/Alert+Dual-T,+and+Bactec+FX+for+detection+of+product+sterility+testing+contaminants.">Comprehensive evaluation of compendial USP&lt;71&gt;, BacT/Alert Dual-T, and Bactec FX for detection of product sterility testing contaminants.</a> Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 57 (2), 01548 (2019).</li><li>Gebo, J. E. T., East, A. D., Lau, A. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+side-by-side+comparison+of+clinical+versus+current+good+manufacturing+practices+(cGMP)+microbiology+laboratory+requirements+for+sterility+testing+of+cellular+and+gene+therapy+products.">A side-by-side comparison of clinical versus current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) microbiology laboratory requirements for sterility testing of cellular and gene therapy products.</a> Clinical Microbiology Newsletter. 43 (21), 181-191 (2021).</li><li>Gebo, J. E. T., Lau, A. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sterility+testing+for+cellular+therapies:+What+is+the+role+of+the+clinical+microbiology+laboratory.">Sterility testing for cellular therapies: What is the role of the clinical microbiology laboratory.</a> Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 58 (7), 01492 (2020).</li><li>International Organization for Standardization. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ISO+14644-1:2015+Cleanrooms+and+associated+controlled+environments+-+Part+1:+Classification+of+air+cleanliness+by+particle+concentration.">ISO 14644-1:2015 Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments - Part 1: Classification of air cleanliness by particle concentration.</a> International Organization for Standardization. , (2015).</li><li>Parenteral Drug Association. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PDA+Technical+Report+No.+13+Revised+2022+(TR+13)+Fundamentals+of+an+Environmental+Monitoring+Program.">PDA Technical Report No. 13 Revised 2022 (TR 13) Fundamentals of an Environmental Monitoring Program.</a> Parenteral Drug Association, Inc. , (2022).</li><li>United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=USP&lt;1116&gt;+Microbiological+Evaluation+of+Cleanrooms+and+Other+Controlled+Environments+in+USP43-NF38+2S.">USP&lt;1116&gt; Microbiological Evaluation of Cleanrooms and Other Controlled Environments in USP43-NF38 2S.</a> United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. , (2020).</li><li>Guinet, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multicenter+study+on+incubation+conditions+for+environmental+monitoring+and+aseptic+process+simulation.">Multicenter study on incubation conditions for environmental monitoring and aseptic process simulation.</a> PDA journal of pharmaceutical science and technology. 71 (1), 43-49 (2017).</li><li>Gordon, O., Berchtold, M., Staerk, A., Roesti, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+different+incubation+conditions+for+microbiological+environmental+monitoring.">Comparison of different incubation conditions for microbiological environmental monitoring.</a> PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology. 68 (5), 394-406 (2014).</li><li>Anders, H. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multisite+qualification+of+an+automated+incubator+and+colony+counter+for+environmental+and+bioburden+applications+in+pharmaceutical+microbiology.">Multisite qualification of an automated incubator and colony counter for environmental and bioburden applications in pharmaceutical microbiology.</a> PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology. , (2022).</li><li>United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=USP&lt;1072&gt;+Disinfectants+and+Antiseptics.">USP&lt;1072&gt; Disinfectants and Antiseptics.</a> United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. , (2020).</li><li>United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=USP&lt;1071&gt;+Rapid+Microbial+Tests+for+Release+of+Sterile+Short-Life+Products:+A+Risk-Based+Approach+in+USP43-NF38+2S.">USP&lt;1071&gt; Rapid Microbial Tests for Release of Sterile Short-Life Products: A Risk-Based Approach in USP43-NF38 2S.</a> United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. , (2020).</li><li>United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PUSP&lt;1223&gt;+Validation+of+Alternative+Microbiological+Methods+in+USP43-NF38+2S.">PUSP&lt;1223&gt; Validation of Alternative Microbiological Methods in USP43-NF38 2S.</a> United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. , (2020).</li><li>Parenteral Drug Association. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PDA+Technical+Report+No.+33,+Revised+2013+(TR+33)+Evaluation,+Validation+and+Implementation+of+Alternative+and+Rapid+Microbiological+Methods.">PDA Technical Report No. 33, Revised 2013 (TR 33) Evaluation, Validation and Implementation of Alternative and Rapid Microbiological Methods.</a> Parenteral Drug Association, Inc. , (2013).</li><li>Putnam, N. E., Lau, A. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comprehensive+study+identifies+a+sensitive,+low-risk,+closed-system+model+for+detection+of+fungal+contaminants+in+cell+and+gene+therapy+products.">Comprehensive study identifies a sensitive, low-risk, closed-system model for detection of fungal contaminants in cell and gene therapy products.</a> Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 59 (11), 0135721 (2021).</li><li>Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention &amp; Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Guide+to+Good+Manufacturing+Practice+for+Medicinal+Products+Annexes+(PE++009-16+(Annexes)).">Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice for Medicinal Products Annexes (PE 009-16 (Annexes)).</a> Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention &amp; Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme. , (2022).</li><li>United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=USP&lt;825&gt;+Radiopharmaceuticals+-+Preparation,+Compounding,+Dispensing,+and+Repackaging+in+USP43-NF38+2S.">USP&lt;825&gt; Radiopharmaceuticals - Preparation, Compounding, Dispensing, and Repackaging in USP43-NF38 2S.</a> United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary. , (2020).</li></ol>

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

There are several critical areas in this protocol, including the maintenance of aseptic technique and unidirectional airflow within cleanrooms and the BSCs. Best practices include moving slowly and deliberately to minimize turbulence. Aseptic manipulations should be performed from the side of the product, not from above. Closed system processing and the use of terminally sterilized raw materials are recommended. Speaking in critical areas and leaning against walls or equipment should be avoided. Similarly, unnecessary to...

Implementing a strong microbial monitoring program through environmental monitoring (EM), process monitoring, and product sterility testing is a regulatory requirement for current good tissue practices (cGTP) and current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) in cellular therapy laboratories1. Additionally, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expects that the laboratory performing the quality control (QC) testing of the product should also employ facilities and controls comparable to those used for aseptic filling operations2. 
This protocol has four main sections: 1) Aseptic practices, including personnel gowning, cleaning, and staging of materials; 2) EM, including viable air and surface cultures and non-viable particle air monitoring; 3) process monitoring, including settling plates and gloved fingertip sampling; and 4) product sterility testing via the compendial United States Pharmacopeia (USP) &lt;71&gt; method3 or the NIH Alternative Sterility Testing Method4. When used together, these measures can be an effective method for ensuring that a facility remains in a state of control.
The techniques described here are not novel; however, current standards from regulators and professional organizations lack detail, which has led to an absence of microbial monitoring or the implementation of non-standardized practices, particularly in academic centers where on-site manufacturing and product sterility testing are emerging at a rapid rate1,5,6. This protocol can be used as a guide to create a microbial monitoring and control program that meets regulatory requirements when used in conjunction with end-user validation and risk assessments.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>20-25&#176;C Incubator</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>30-35&#176;C Incubator</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alcohol-based hand sanitizer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BacT/ALERT Dual-T instrument</td>
			<td>BioMerieux Industry</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Beard cover</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biosafety cabinet (BSC)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cleanroom shoes</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluidthioglycollate medium (FTM)</td>
			<td>Hardy Diagnostics&#160;</td>
			<td>U84</td>
			<td>USP</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Handheld cleaning mop</td>
			<td>Contec</td>
			<td>2665LF</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hypodermic needle</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>iFA+ BacT/ALERT bottle</td>
			<td>Biomerieux</td>
			<td>412990</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>iFN+ BacT/ALERT bottle</td>
			<td>Biomerieux</td>
			<td>412991</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isokinetic head</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laser particle counter</td>
			<td>TSI Incorporated</td>
			<td>9500-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LpH III</td>
			<td>Steris</td>
			<td>1S16CX</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mirror</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Non-sterile bouffant</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Non-sterile gloves</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Non-sterile shoe covers</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Non-sterile sleeve covers</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Parafilm</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Peridox RTU</td>
			<td>Contec</td>
			<td>CR85335IR</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plastic bag</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with Lecithinase and Tween (SABLT)</td>
			<td>Hardy Diagnostics&#160;</td>
			<td>P595</td>
			<td>USP, irradiated</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sabouraurd Dextrose Agar (SAB)</td>
			<td>Hardy Diagnostics&#160;</td>
			<td>W565</td>
			<td>USP, irradiated</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Safety glasses</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scrubs (top and bottom)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spor-Klenx RTU</td>
			<td>Steris</td>
			<td>6525M2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA)</td>
			<td>Decon CiDehol</td>
			<td>8316</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile alcohol wipe</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile boot covers</td>
			<td>Kimberly Clark</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Cat# varies based on size</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile coveralls</td>
			<td>Kimberly Clark</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Cat# varies based on size</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile face mask</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile gloves</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile hood</td>
			<td>Kimberly Clark</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Cat# varies based on size</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile low-lint wipes</td>
			<td>Texwipe</td>
			<td>TX3210</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile mop cleaning pads</td>
			<td>Contec</td>
			<td>MEQT0002SZ</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile sleeve covers</td>
			<td>Kimberly Clark</td>
			<td>36077</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile spreading rod</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>14665231</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile syringe</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tacky mats</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA)</td>
			<td>Hardy Diagnostics&#160;</td>
			<td>W570R</td>
			<td>USP, irradiated</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tryptic Soy Agar with Lecithinase and Tween (TSALT)</td>
			<td>Hardy Diagnostics&#160;</td>
			<td>P520R</td>
			<td>USP, irradiated</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB)</td>
			<td>Hardy Diagnostics&#160;</td>
			<td>U46</td>
			<td>USP</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tubing</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vesphene III</td>
			<td>Steris</td>
			<td>1S15CX</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Viable air sampler</td>
			<td>Hardy Diagnostics&#160;</td>
			<td>BAS22K</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vortex</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Lab preference</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

microbial control and monitoring strategies for cleanroom environments and cellular therapies

A well-validated and holistic program that incorporates robust gowning, cleaning, environmental monitoring, and personnel monitoring measures is critical for minimizing the microbial bioburden in cellular therapy manufacturing suites and the corresponding testing laboratories to ensure that the facilities are operating in a state of control. Ensuring product safety via quality control measures, such as sterility testing, is a regulatory requirement for both minimally manipulated (section 361) and more than minimally manipulated (section 351) human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps). In this video, we provide a stepwise guide for how to develop and incorporate the best aseptic practices for operating in a cleanroom environment, including gowning, cleaning, staging of materials, environmental monitoring, process monitoring, and product sterility testing using direct inoculation, provided by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP&lt;71&gt;) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Alternative Sterility Testing Method. This protocol is intended as a reference guide for establishments expected to meet current good tissue practices (cGTP) and current good manufacturing practices (cGMP).

Author Spotlight: Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments and Cellular Therapies  

Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments and Cellular Therapies

The expected results are described in Table 1. The EM data should be reviewed and followed up with an appropriate investigation and response to action, alert, or ISO limit excursions. If an excursion occurs for non-viable particles, one should proceed as per ISO 14644-Annex A, sec A.5.57. If the excursion can be attributed to an immediately identifiable abnormal occurrence, the original sampling results should be documented, a note should be added to disregard the original results...

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The protocol summarizes the best practices to minimize microbial bioburden in a cleanroom environment and includes strategies such as environmental monitoring, process monitoring, and product sterility testing. It is relevant for manufacturing and testing facilities that are required to meet current good tissue practice standards and current good manufacturing practice standards.

A well-validated and holistic program that incorporates robust gowning, cleaning, environmental monitoring, and personnel monitoring measures is critical ...

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2.4K Views.  National Institutes of Health. The protocol summarizes the best practices to minimize microbial bioburden in a cleanroom environment and includes strategies such as environmental monitoring, process monitoring, and product sterility testing. It is relevant for manufacturing and testing facilities that are required to meet current good tissue practice standards and current good manufacturing practice standards. 