Compounding times and contamination rates associated with the preparation of intravenous admixtures in three types of plastic containers.

The compounding times and contamination rates associated with the preparation of admixtures in three different plastic i.v. containers of dextrose 5% in water were compared. The time required for a technician to prepare, in a laminar air flow hood by the needle and syringe technique, 120 admixtures in each of three different plastic i.v. containers was measured and recorded by two investigators. The 360 admixtures were tested within one hour of preparation for sterility using an enriched brain heart infusion broth. The total time required to compound the i.v. admixtures varied significantly with container design (p less than 0.01), preparation being fastest with the Accumed container, followed by the LifeCare then the Viaflex containers. The major contributing factors to increased compounding time were (1) removal of outer wrap, (2) swabbing of LifeCare and Viaflex medication ports with isopropyl alcohol pads and (3) freeing of the hangar flap from the Viaflex container. Sterility tests revealed no detectable contamination of any of the admixtures. Container design of plastic i.v. containers did influence the preparation time for admixtures but did not influence admixture sterility.