What is the preferred method for introducing HEPA filtered air into the SEC?

The preferred method for introducing HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filtered air into the Secondary Engineering Control (SEC) is at the ceiling level. This approach is crucial for maintaining proper airflow dynamics within the sterile compounding environment.

By introducing the filtered air from the ceiling, it allows for effective downward airflow, which helps to create a unidirectional airflow pattern that minimizes the potential for contamination. This method ensures that the clean air disseminates evenly throughout the workspace, pushing contaminants down and away from the compounding area, especially where sterile products are prepared.

Furthermore, ceiling-level airflow helps to reduce the risk of particles and contaminants that may settle from the air onto surfaces or the compounding sterile products. This is integral to maintaining the sterility and safety of compounded preparations.

In contrast, introducing air from the floor level or along the walls may disrupt the desired airflow patterns and could lead to turbulence or dead zones where contaminants can accumulate, thus increasing the risk of contamination in a sterile environment.