COMPANY-REPORTED CASE
A pharmaceutical case combining contamination investigation, targeted VHP HVAC treatment and post-treatment microbial and hydrogen peroxide residue testing.
A pharmaceutical manufacturer identified a suspected contaminating microorganism in its products and engaged VanTsteri to investigate and address the problem. The customer needed to understand where contamination might be located, identify the areas requiring treatment and evaluate the treatment outcome.
VanTsteri extended the investigation to the logistics warehouse and related environments, where testing detected the same microbial species. This finding prompted further investigation of the weighing and sampling rooms, but the same species does not by itself establish the same strain or a common contamination source.
Considering the configuration of the rooms’ HVAC air-purification system and internal areas difficult to reach through routine cleaning, the team suspected contamination within the system. Subsequent testing supported this assessment, giving the treatment a more clearly defined focus.
Explore microbial contamination investigation and source tracing
VanTsteri used KINO SUBZERO vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) decontamination equipment to carry out targeted treatment of the affected HVAC system. The focus was on internal areas that routine cleaning could not readily reach.
KINO SUBZERO is used for HVAC-system and pipeline decontamination, with equipment connections and operating conditions assessed for the site’s system. Hydrogen peroxide can decompose into water and oxygen. Post-treatment testing in this project did not detect residual hydrogen peroxide.
VHP decontamination equipment for HVAC systemsPost-treatment microbiological testing did not detect the microorganism previously under investigation. These findings relate to the samples tested in this project.
The project connected contamination investigation, system assessment, targeted VHP decontamination and post-treatment testing. This gave the customer a coordinated approach to investigating contamination, identifying treatment priorities and evaluating the results.
If microbial contamination is affecting your pharmaceutical weighing and sampling rooms, HVAC system or pipelines, discuss a site investigation and VHP decontamination plan with VanTsteri.
This case account and its test findings were provided by VanTsteri’s project representative. The customer’s name and identifying location details are withheld.
