Hazardous Drug Wipe Sampling in Healthcare Facilities

Hazardous drugs are associated with causing acute and chronic side effects to healthcare workers that experience occupational exposures. Antineoplastic drugs are known to cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, mutagenic activity, spontaneous abortions, infertility, and congenital malformations. Currently, there are no acceptable thresholds for exposures to this type of hazardous drugs. The use of as low as reasonably acceptable (ALARA) is used for exposures to these types of drugs. Occupational exposure risk should be evaluated within facilities where they are used. Performing hazardous drug wipe sampling in areas that are high risk for contamination can provide information to facilities on how to protect their employees