Clean Air. Simple Compounding Lab Compliance

Before diving into the details… here’s what you need to know: FILTR Revolution air purification system serves as a critical backup solution for compounding labs facing HVAC disruptions – ensuring compliance in unforseen moments. This allows labs to maintain USP standards, avoid costly shutdowns, and ensure continuous operation without compromising safety or regulatory requirements.

Understanding the Compounding Lab Compliance Challenge

The Regulatory Reality

Compounding pharmacies operate under strict USP <797> and <800> guidelines that mandate specific air quality parameters. According to USP requirements, sterile compounding facilities must maintain controlled environments with specific air change rates (ACH), pressure differentials, and filtration standards.

The Vulnerability Point

HVAC systems and fan filter units (FFUs) form the backbone of cleanroom environments, but they represent a significant vulnerability. When these systems require maintenance, experience failure, or need repair, compounding labs face an immediate crisis. Without proper backup systems, facilities must halt operations, potentially experiencing significant revenue loss. According to industry standards, even brief interruptions in controlled airflow can necessitate extensive remediation before operations can resume.

Area ISO Class ACH Particle Size of Concern Pressure Differential
Storage Area​
N/A
12
0.5µm & 5.0µm
Ante Room
8
> 30
0.5µm & 5.0µm
≥ +0.02 in. w.c. vs. Unclassified Areas
Buffer Area
7
> 30
0.5µm & 5.0µm
+0.02 to +0.05 in. w.c. vs. Ante Room
HD Buffer Room (Hazardous)
7
> 30
0.5µm & 5.0µm
-0.01 to -0.03 in. w.c. vs. Ante Room
Ante Room (Hazardous)
7
> 30
0.5µm & 5.0µm
≥ +0.02 in. w.c. vs. Unclassified Areas

 

FILTR Revolution has 99.99996% Removal Efficiency of 0.5µm and above at 500 CFM.

 

Backup Solutions for Continuity

The Portable Compliance Strategy

When HVAC challenges arise, compounding labs need solutions that can be rapidly deployed without infrastructure modifications. Portable air purification systems have emerged as a critical strategy for maintaining operations during primary system disruptions. FILTR Revolution specifically addresses this need by providing supplementary air filtration that maintains required air changes per hour.

Aligning with Regulatory Requirements

Compounding facilities must consider how any backup solution integrates with USP standards. Buffer rooms, anterooms, and hazardous drug areas each have specific requirements for air quality, pressure relationships, and filtration efficiency. An effective backup system must support these varied requirements while being adaptable enough for rapid deployment where needed.

Evaluating FILTR Revolution as Your Compliance Partner

Operational Advantages

Sound Optimized Performance

Delivers up to 50% more clean air at the same sound level as competing units, ensuring communication and workflow aren't disrupted in sensitive compounding environments

System Integrity Verification

Every unit undergoes comprehensive particle leakage testing, ensuring the entire system-not just the filter media-maintains integrity during operation

Pressure Differential Support

Ducting capabilities enable the unit to support positive pressure environments for non-hazardous compounding or negative pressure requirements for hazardous drug areas

Rapid
Deployment

No HVAC modifications or installation required-the portable design allows for immediate positioning where airflow challenges emerge

FILTR Revolution delivers performance metrics that align with stringent compounding lab requirements. Its filtration efficiency captures 99.997% of particles at 0.3 microns and 99.77% at 0.024 microns, exceeding standard HEPA efficiency requirements for pharmacy cleanrooms. This level of filtration meets and surpasses the requirements for both non-hazardous and hazardous compounding environments.

Preventative Uses for FILTR

FILTR is not only a corrective solution — it’s a critical component in preventative contamination control strategies. By continuously supplementing facility air quality, FILTR helps pharmacies stay ahead of environmental risks, particularly in high-risk areas, common areas, and transitional zones. Preventative applications include:

  • Augmenting airflow and filtration in ante rooms, segregated compounding areas (SCA), or buffer zones where HVAC coverage may be uneven.
  • Reducing bioburden and particulate loads before they become compliance issues, especially in high-traffic or high-touch zones.
  • Enhancing protection during seasonal shifts, construction nearby, or increased workload volumes.
  • Serving as an engineering control layer to support risk-based quality assurance plans under USP <797> and <800>.
  • Reducing contaminant entry potential from unclassified, general, and support environments such as front lobbies, breakrooms, conference rooms, and more.

 

With FILTR, pharmacies can build resilience into their cleanroom strategy — ensuring consistently clean air and reinforcing compliance before problems arise.

Corrective Uses for FILTR

When compounding environments fall out of compliance due to elevated particle counts, contamination events, or HVAC system inadequacies, FILTR Air Purification serves as a rapid and effective corrective action solution. FILTR units can be deployed to restore controlled environments while primary systems are repaired, recalibrated, or upgraded. By introducing our four-stage approach to clean air at the source of concern, FILTR helps to:

  • Reduce airborne particulate and microbial loads to acceptable ISO or USP <797>/<800> levels during remediation.
  • Support compliance during investigations, revalidation, or post-cleaning events.
  • Provide supplemental environmental control in spaces with aging HVAC systems or limited airflow.
  • Act as an interim safeguard when certifiers identify airflow imbalances, pressure failures, or HEPA leaks.
  • Rapidly deploy for supplemental particle capture and removal during FFU failures, maintenance, and replacements to minimize operational disruptions.

FILTR allows pharmacies to maintain operations during corrective periods while demonstrating a proactive response to quality and regulatory expectations.

Implementing FILTR in Your Compliance Strategy

Integration Scenarios

The FILTR Revolution serves multiple roles within a comprehensive compliance strategy:

Planned Maintenance Support

Schedule HVAC maintenance without operational shutdowns by deploying FILTR units to maintain required air changes and pressure relationships

Emergency Response Coverage

Keep FILTR units as ready reserves for unexpected HVAC failures or contamination events

Supplemental Support

Address areas with marginal compliance by boosting air changes without costly HVAC modifications

Temporary Cleanroom Creation

Create compliant temporary workspaces when needed for overflow production or during facility renovations

Implementing FILTR Revolution as part of your compliance strategy delivers measurable financial benefits. A single day of operational shutdown can cost thousands in lost revenue and wasted materials. By maintaining continuity during HVAC disruptions, labs protect both their bottom line and their reputation for reliable service.

The journey to sustained compliance in compounding facilities requires proactive planning for inevitable infrastructure challenges. FILTR Revolution serves as a critical component in this strategy-providing the flexibility, performance, and reliability needed to maintain operations through HVAC disruptions.

By incorporating portable air purification into your compliance toolkit, you create resilience against disruptions that would otherwise halt production and compromise patient care. 

FILTR Revolution doesn't just filter air...

It Filters Out Uncertainty for your Compliance Equation.

You can feel confident knowing your facility, your staff, and your animals are better protected from whatever’s in the air. With FILTR Revolution, you’re not just cleaning the air-you’re showing everyone that their well-being matters. Let’s make your space safer and healthier, together.