The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7193 p487-492
13 April 2002

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Intrathecal drug guidance clarified

Additional information about guidance on administration of intrathecal chemotherapy has been set out by the Department of Health. This follows the publication of guidance last November that required all hospitals to comply with standards to ensure uniform practice (PJ, 17 November 2001, p707).

The new information aims to answer questions that have arisen about the guidelines. Among the topics it covers is storage of intrathecal drugs which it says should not be stored outside the pharmacy between pre-paration and administration except in exceptional circumstances when a lockable refrigerator reserved for the purpose should be used. In terms of dilution of vincristine, pharmacies should dilute all vincristine preparations to a maximum concentration of 0.1mg/ml and a minimum volume of 10ml.

The guidance is available here.