Last Revised: November 13, 2025
Revision 11/25
Description
Hazardous drugs include those used for cancer chemotherapy, some antiviral drugs, hormones, and bioengineered drugs.
See NIOSH list of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs for a list. Exposures to hazardous drugs can cause both acute and chronic health effects such as rashes, adverse reproductive outcomes (infertility, spontaneous abortions and congenital malformations) and possible leukemia and other cancers. The health risk depends on the extent of occupational exposure. Worker exposure primarily occurs through skin contact.
This SOP applies to University of Pennsylvania personnel performing animal research and veterinary medical practitioners and staff at the Ryan Veterinary Hospital and New Bolton Center. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has its own policies and procedures.
Exposure Control
In the research environment worker exposure is prevented through the use of local ventilation (typically a Class II type B biosafety cabinet, or fume hood), barrier protection, work surface protection and decontamination of work surfaces. These same techniques are used in the veterinary clinical environment along with work practice controls in administration areas where patient care takes priority.
Research Use in Laboratories and ULAR
- Avoid all skin contact with hazardous drugs. Treat all vials as contaminated. Handle vials with gloves. Wear disposable nitrile gloves (4 mil minimum) or gloves tested for chemotherapy protection.
- Wear appropriate barrier protection such as a lab coat when in the lab or disposable coveralls provided by ULAR
- Wear Safety glasses or goggles and shoe covers when appropriate
- Handle in a vented biosafety cabinet or on the bench over a disposable work surface
- Dispose of syringe as chemically contaminated sharps.
- If chemical contact due a splash would result in a chemical exposure injury or illness, luer-lock, integrated-needle syringes or closed system transfer devices, should be used instead. These devices prevent the needle from detaching from the syringe barrel during use.
- Change gloves after syringe removal from vial.
- Use a detergent solution for cleaning followed by a water rinse to remove drug residues or in VHUP only use Rescue.
- Place drug vial in a sealed bag before it is removed from the biological safety cabinet or hood.
- Wash hands immediately after removing gloves.
Training for VHUP Clinical Handling
Training must be provided for the safe handling of hazardous drugs. VHUP staff must complete training in Workday titled: Using Hazardous Drugs (USP 800) at Penn Medicine, HS.10015.ITEM.USP800.
VHUP Drug Preparation
- Avoid all skin contact with hazardous drugs. Treat all packaging and vials as contaminated. Handle with gloves. Inspect shipments for leakage immediately upon receipt.
- Wear proper PPE during preparation. Wear chemo gloves, chemo gown, and safety glasses.
- Prohibit eating, drinking, chewing gum and applying cosmetics within area where drugs are handled.
- Use a vented biological safety cabinet for preparation if available or a designated area in the pharmacy or clinic.
- Use Rescue for cleaning to remove drug residues and to clean all surface counters and equipment.
- Dispose of Chemo Dispensing Pins, and syringes in the blue bin provided by EHRS or the yellow sharps container. No sharps are to be put in the yellow bags designated for non-sharps such as gowns, gloves and shoe covers. Unused drug and drug vials should be collected as hazardous waste.
- Pre-prime IVs in the biosafety cabinet or prime in-line with nondrug solutions.
- When drug preparation is complete, seal the product in a plastic bag or other sealed carrier.
- Wash hands immediately after removing inner gloves.
VHUP Drug Administration
- Wear proper PPE during administration including doubled nitrile gloves or chemo gloves, chemo gown, safety glasses or face shield and shoe covers as needed.
- Use closed system transfer device for preparing and administering hazardous drugs.
- Flush IV systems with nondrug solutions before removal.
- Dispose of contaminated syringes in the blue bin provided by EHRS or the yellow sharps container. No sharps are to be put in the yellow bags designated for non-sharps such as gowns, gloves and shoe covers.
VHUP Waste Cleaning and Disposal
- Dispose of contaminated syringes and vials in the blue bin provided by EHRS or the yellow sharps container. No sharps are to be put in the yellow bags designated for non-sharps such as gowns, gloves and shoe covers. Unused drug and drug vials should be collected as hazardous waste.
- Clean and decontaminate work areas with Rescue before and after each activity involving hazardous drugs.
- Remove shoe covers, gown and outer gloves and dispose of in the soft yellow bags for PPE disposal.
- Wash hands thoroughly after removing gloves.
Emergency Contacts
General emergency response information can be found at Emergency Info
Spills
General procedures for chemicals spill response can be found in Section X: Chemical Spills in this CHP.
Do not hesitate to call EHRS for assistance with spill cleanup
24 hours: 215-898-4453
Contact Penn Police (511) only if the spill involves a fire, imminent risk of fire, an injury requiring an ambulance, or if there is a hazard that may affect others in the building.
References
"Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs for Veterinary Healthcare Workers", National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, June 2010.
"Hazardous Drug Exposures in Health Care", Centers for Disease Control and Prevention