The manufacture of pharmaceuticals and other bio-technical products needs the use of specialised garments that prevent product contamination by the persons working in the manufacturing cleanroom. In order to provide the required level of decontamination, drying and sterility, these garments must be dealt with according to strict specifications in controlled environments. Only then, a garment will be ready for immediate use when it is returned to the customer.
Garments supplied from the cleanroom laundry have to be decontaminated and sterilised by using validated processes. Additionally, when each garment can be tracked by using an RFID tag sewn into the garment – full traceability of its visual inspection can be carried out, as well as repairs history, thermal disinfection and the drying and sterilisation cycle.
Evidently, workwear that is not adequately decontaminated and sterilised is a direct risk of contamination for both operator and product. It has occurred that cleanroom workwear has resulted in unacceptable contamination of pharmaceutical products worth millions of dollars, which have had to be destroyed at huge cost to its manufacturer. In addition to direct costs, the marketplace may even be confronted with supply shortage or product withdrawal as a result of insufficient cleaning.
