It is an absolute truth that all sterile production line installations must be associated with an appropriate means of protection of the product and the environment. When this choice relates to isolator technology, very particular attention must be paid to its design. This must be based on a perfect match between user need and the current state-of-the-art of this cutting-edge technology, culminating in an optimised solution for future production. The installation of a new injectables production line at the Aspen site at Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville (76) is an example. The site, located in Normandy close to Rouen, has specialised in the production of prefilled syringes for many years and produces almost 118 million syringes each year destined for more than 30 international markets including the USA.

Contamination control is of great importance to healthcare facilities and to pharmaceutical cleanrooms. One way of ensuring the hygiene is maintained through a cleaning and disinfection regime. After a disinfectant has been chosen based on its chemical properties and expected performance/effectiveness, each disinfectant should be validated to ensure its efficacy.

Microbiological controls of the environment in clean rooms are now included in most recommendations and regulatory documents. For example, in the guide “Bonnes Pratiques de Fabrication (BPF)”(1) it is recommended that limits and values of microorganisms in the air and on the surfaces are applied in the different clean room classes (A-D). This guide is the French translation of the guide for European Good Manufacturing Practice (2). In the hospital environment, the French standard NF390351 imposes microbiological values of the air and surfaces based on defined risk environments.