You believe in two tenants of oncology pharmacy. One, that careless handling of hazardous drug (HD) while storing, admixing, transport, administration, or, disposing will lead to contamination throughout your facility. Second, after proper handling, a thorough, effective, cleaning program is the most effective means of mitigating HD trace contamination. VeriWipes® provides physical, visible, confirmation that your cleaning program is being executed in an effective manner that is cost effective.

The primary mitigation strategy in reducing/eliminating potential hazardous drug (HD) trace contamination is dilution and physical removal from the target surface. This physical removal takes the form of actual wiping of the area. VeriWipes® allow you to monitor the performance of the cleaning in your facility. By placing an odorless, colorless, undetectable marker solution on an identified surface, you can go back after cleaning has been performed to verify the marker solution has been removed. If the marker is present after cleaning, the cleaning process was not performed or was ineffective.

No. VeriWipes® is a two-step system that verifies that your cleaning tasks have been performed. Step 1 applies a marker solution which dries immediately and is visibly undetectable. Following Step 1, enough time is allowed for the scheduled cleaning to be conducted. After that time, typically 4-12 hrs, Step 2 is conducted. Step 2 is an indicator solution specific to the ingredient in the marker solution. If the marker is present after cleaning it indicates that the surface was not effectively cleaned.

No, VeriWipes® are intended to provide a much needed, low-cost option for routine cleaning protocol validation to augment the use of HD drug detection systems.

VeriWipes® are one part of your HD trace contaminant surveillance routine. By using VeriWipes® in tandem with the Spotcheck Trace, or other drug detection systems, you will stretch your HD drug trace contamination monitoring budget much further. VeriWipes® allow you to monitor cleaning of multiple (as much as 20 to 30 times more) target surfaces for the cost of one drug detection test. This saves your more expensive drug detection tests for problematic areas or post-spill cleanup confirmation.

No. There are several citations in the literature that show potential for HD trace contamination is found on surfaces throughout the facility, not just in the hood. Areas that have been shown to have HD trace contamination include floors in the compounding area, sill’s on pass through, handles on refrigerators and inventory cabinets, computer key boards, calculators, bins used to stage chemo doses, nursing station counter tops, telephones, IV pumps and poles, treatment chairs. The list is extensive.
The smell of peroxide does not confirm the task of cleaning has been effectively performed.

Yes. VeriWipes can be used for two different validations/verifications.
First, VeriWipes are intended to be used to provide physical evidence of staff competency with regard to understanding, and effectively carrying out, proper cleaning of the hood.
Second, VeriWipes can provide a means of audit for management as proof that the staff executes the cleaning of the hood effectively.

VeriWipes® results indicate whether, or not, your staff or contact cleaning personnel are carrying out your facility cleaning effectively. After applying marker solution, management can follow behind the scheduled cleaning (overnight as an example) to confirm that the surfaces that are expected to be cleaned, are in fact, cleaned.

No. The composition of the marker solution includes alcohol to facilitate fast drying. It is stable and durable when sprayed with IPA, such as the side wall of a hood. When a large volume of IPA is poured onto a surface, such as the floor of the hood, it will have a dilutional effect on the marker. In these cases, we expect the IPA will be wiped up. This is the process we wish to see and will facilitate the removal of the marker, indicating the surface has been effectively cleaned.

No. Both the marker solution and the indicator solution are a fraction of the NIOSH and OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) and Short-Term Exposure Limits (STEL).
Marker solution should not be sprayed into eyes or ingested. The indicator swab is non-toxic and washes off with soap and water. It is recommended to use rubber/latex gloves when handling the pads as it is a dye.

No, VeriWipes® do not clean your surfaces. It is intended for use as a quality improvement tool to audit cleaning protocol and procedure performance.

Many surfaces have been tested. VeriWipes® are safe to use on hard surfaces such as steel (stainless or painted), laminates and synthetic counter tops, washable, non-porous, fabrics such as those coverings on treatment chairs.
VeriWipes® should be used on fine wood varnishes with caution. It is recommended that a test application is first used on an inconspicuous area of the fixture in question.

No.

Potentially yes. The indicator swab solution is a dye. It is recommended that if it is applied to cloth fabric, the area is washed with soap and water.

Any cleaning agent with mild detergent will removed residual indicator dye.

No.

While Veriwipes® were initially developed to monitor cleaning protocols in healthcare offices, it is of value in the commercial real estate, hotel, & restaurant industries. As a manager, you now have the ability to confirm your staff's knowledge of cleaning protocols but also measure their performance.