On Thursday and Friday of last week, 22 surveyors were trained for the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB). These surveyors will work with the pharmacy PCAB applicants, visit the applicant's facility to determine whether or not the PCAB standards are met, and make recommendations to PCAB.

The training sessions began with a presentation on the background of PCAB, its development, organization, implementation, and operation. The application and resource materials that are available online (www.pcab.info) were demonstrated and reviewed. Next, the standards were discussed in detail over several hours. The 10 general standards were developed by a committee named by PCAB almost two years ago and approved by PCAB last year. The standards are accompanied by "compliance indicators" to assist in determining whether or not the standards are met, and these were also discussed.

For the accreditation process, a lot of emphasis is placed on standard operating procedures (SOPs) or policies and procedures that must be in place and operational (over 300 SOPs are available for download at www.CompoundingToday.com). Simply having a file or book of SOPs with the cellophane wrapper on them or sitting undisturbed on the shelf does not meet the standards. They must be implemented, used, and documented.

PCAB provides compounding pharmacists an opportunity of providing evidence of a quality compounding facility. Admittedly, it is not a perfect system, but, currently, it is the best system we have. Accredited pharmacies have opportunities to market and publicize their accreditation status. Many accredited pharmacies have already commented that it is making a difference in their operations and marketing. Additionally, discounted liability insurance rates are available.

Are you ready for accreditation? Perform a GAP analysis (available at www.ijpc.com) and evaluate where you are at this time. Then, visit the PCAB website for information and the application. Most of it is done online and is then followed up by a visit from a PCAB surveyor. The surveyor may be available to also make recommendations and provide some assistance in the process. Actually, there will be two individuals involved (one or two surveyors directly, depending upon the size of the pharmacy, and a second individual as a resource).

The PCAB process is underway with the goal of accrediting several hundred compounding pharmacies in 2007.

Loyd V. Allen, Jr., Ph.D., R.Ph
Editor-in-Chief

The International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding, Inc. (IJPC) has published 10 years of journals. IJPC offers these professional binders that enable you to protect and organize your back issues! Each one has a mortar and pestle graphic with the IJPC logo and a place on the spine to put what years of journals are in the binder. Features include:

• Each binder holds up to two years of IJPC journals
• Provides protection for your journals
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To see a picture of the binder go to www.ijpc.com/Products/ProductDescription.cfm?PID=2499. To order, complete and mail or fax the IJPC Binder Order Form or call (800)757-4572 today.

CompoundingToday.com's literature search database this week adds 23 citations about treatment options for generalized and focal hyperhidrosis. Here is a sampling of them:

Management of primary hyperhidrosis: A summary of the different treatment modalities.
Connolly M, de Berker D. Am J Clin Dermatol 2003; 4(10): 681-697.

Hyperhidrosis: Evolving therapies for a well-established phenomenon.
Eisenach JH, Atkinson JL, Fealey RD. Mayo Clin Proc 2005; 80(5): 657-666.

Erythrocyte oxidant/antioxidant status in essential hyperhidrosis.
Karaca S, Kulac M, Uz E et al. Mol Cell Biochem 2006; 290(1-2): 131-135.

Botulinum toxin type A by iontophoresis for primary palmar hyperhidrosis.
Kavanagh GM, Shams K. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006; 55(5 Suppl): S115-S117.

Craniofacial hyperhidrosis successfully treated with topical glycopyrrolate.
Luh JY, Blackwell TA. South Med J 2002; 95(7): 756-758.

Hospital pharmacy administrators should make themselves aware of all standards and guidelines for compounding and repackaging, as these are activities which require specialized equipment, supplies, and facilities different than those needed by other services of the hospital pharmacy department. In our series of articles dedicated to helping hospital pharmacies meet vital standards or guidelines, the articles of which began with the July/August 2006 issue, our November/December 2006 issue features an article titled Equipment, Supplies, and Facilities Required for Hospital Compounding. You can read this article on pages 436 through 441. If you are not a subscriber you can purchase and download this specific article at www.ijpc.com/backissues/ArticleDescription.cfm?ABS=2475

Sign up today at www.IJPC.com and start your journal print and electronic subscriptions. You can download what you are currently subscribed to and purchase electronic access to our complete set of back issues.

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