My epic padlet by Sanjiv Kanesan

Video 7: Cleanroom cleaning – surface cleaning (Sanjiv)

kanesansanjiv — 2023-11-21 07:21:57 UTC

In lesson 6, I was unsure about the techniques of how to wipe surfaces in a clean room like the BSC cabinet but after watching the video I got key insights about good procedures that are efficient in cleaning surfaces Soak the surfaces with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wet wipes. Make sure the surface stays moist, and replace the wet wipes on a regular basis. Use overlapping passes and a top-down strategy, wiping at least 25% of the surface each time. Fold the towel after each pass and wipe in a single direction, making sure to touch every surface. Use a fresh wiper once the old ones can no longer be folded.

This helped me apply the necessary techniques later during the lab session which I felt was beneficial as this ability is the cornerstone of efficient contamination control, cultivating a spotless atmosphere necessary to preserve the accuracy and calibre of procedures in the cleanroom.

Video 6: Pass through sterile disinfection. (By Shruti)

220266361 — 2023-11-21 07:26:15 UTC

In Lesson 5, we learnt about proper entry and exit procedures, proper gowning as well as frequently used cleaning agents such as Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA), certain phenolics and more. Upon experiencing gowning in the BTL airlock, I had some questions. I was wondering how the “clean” and “dirty” areas could be separated just by a demarcation line and pondered upon the reliability of this line. Additionally, upon learning about proper cleaning practices in Lesson 6, I wondered how the above-mentioned cleaning agents were brought into the work area to commence cleaning of equipment.

Everything brought into the cleanroom is a source of contamination, and completely eradicating all sources is tough. Despite having an airlock in place to maintain a certain air flow and minimize particulate entry into the cleanroom, extra measures must be taken to ensure optimal cleanliness. This includes proper transportation of cleaning agents.

What I learnt from the video was that cleaning agents are packaged twice, with each packaging being removed as the agent proceeds from the first airlock to the second airlock and into the work area. Before moving from the first airlock into the cleanroom, the first layer is removed and when moving from the second airlock into the second cleanroom, the next layer is removed. By learning about this mechanism, it cleared my pre-existing doubts and taught me that absolutely everything going into the cleanroom has its own SOP to closely follow. Furthermore, it also spurred an interest in me to find out more about other similar processes carried out in cleanrooms to maintain product integrity.

Video 1: The GMP of Cleaning & Disinfecting Cleanrooms (Sudha)

220268001 — 2023-11-21 07:51:17 UTC

The video mainly explains the standard procedures within a clean room lab ranging from how to prepare the disinfectant to how to properly handle damaged equipment and disassembly of equipment. This video was able to clarify certain question I had regarding how to clean equipment which could rust or be damaged easily. The video also briefly explains how to handle equipment that are broken such as labelling it and documenting about the equipment's condition.

The video however did not answer my question thoroughly about the procedures on handling broken equipment as it only briefly mentioned about how the equipment must be isolated and a supervisor would handle it. Other than that question, the video was able to properly explain how to dilute cleaning agents with demineralized water and how the pipes within the lab are cleaned using this diluted solution. It had covered topics which were not really discussed in class, hence I was able to learn something new from it.

Video 3 : Wiping of floor, ceilings (Karissa)

kanesansanjiv — 2023-11-21 11:35:48 UTC

In order to clean the ceiling, floors and walls of the clean room , the mop should be wiping in a “figures of 8 method” where the mop is moved in 8 shaped loops while moving backwards and always move in a single direction while wiping so dirt particles and pathogens will not contaminate other surfaces, and in the case where the user is unsure of the correct direction to mop in , there is an arrow on the mop which indicate the correct direction to mop in.
mopping too quickly might cause disturbance to the surrounding air which cause unwanted microorganisms and particles so it is best to do it slowly

Video 5: Spray and wiping of equipment (Jiaruey)

2023-11-21 13:00:38 UTC

In lesson 6, we learn about classroom operations such as proper entry and exit procedures, waste management and BSC operations. I find that the most difficult part is cleaning the BSC cabinets as I am a visual learner so without many diagrams or videos, I find it hard to visualise the process after reading them from the slides. I find that the slides also raise more questions than answers like ‘is this cleaning process the same for all cleanroom surfaces’ and ‘how many times can the wipes be folded before it is compromised’. Moreover, since I lack experience doing it in a biopharmaceutical setting for the practical, watching the video can provide great insight into how to do it and what I should avoid.

I had learnt a lot of insight from the video as it showcases how there were two techniques used for the disinfection of systems and equipment. For the system and equipment that were difficult to access, spraying is recommended while for smooth curved surfaces and individual equipment, wiping is recommended. The video also goes into great detail at how each process is done in a step-by-step basis and also gives out pointers that should be avoided when carrying out the procedure. Take the cleaning of the BSC as an example, the video shows an animated diagram alongside narration that the first step is to use wipes that are suitable for cleanrooms (Lint-free wipes), followed up with thoroughly spraying disinfectant (with reference to disinfection plans) onto the wipes. Afterwards, the wipes are used from top to bottom and from back to front in straight overlapping lines of about 25% to ensure contaminating particles do not remain in BSC. The wipes are then folded 4 times so that several wipe cycles can be performed with a fresh surface, minimising contamination. The pointers given out for cleaning of BSC is that fast and circulating movement as well as scrubbing and scouring of surfaces must be avoided to minimise spreading of microbes.

As such, by watching demonstration videos on spraying and wiping of equipment, it allows me to easily see how the process should be carried out and get a rough idea of how I should perform the process smoothly without making many mistakes. The added narration in the videos also really help in my understanding of the processes as the narrator goes in detail in explaining each steps of the process and the common mistakes that should be avoided like wiping the BSC surfaces quickly or scrubbing its surface as it can create turbulence in air which can spread microbes. I find that such videos are super helpful as it not only allows me to visualise and understand the steps-by-step process of cleaning the BSC but also help me to learn which part of the practical lesson I should be careful of to minimise mistakes and ensure proper disinfection of the BSC.

Additionally, the video also helps to clear some questions I had about the cleaning procedures performed in the cleanrooms as the video brings additional insights into how other equipment is also disinfected like how difficult to access equipment is disinfected via spraying at a slightly lateral angle to ensure that all parts of the equipment is disinfected. I find that the video is very informative in bringing additional information about the cleaning of the equipment to help me build a comprehensive picture of how cleaning is done inside the cleanroom. This also fosters curiosity in me to find out more about how cleaning is done in the cleanroom.