What particle size is referred to in both ISO Class 7 and Class 8 standards?

ISO Class 7 and Class 8 standards relate to the cleanliness of air in controlled environments, particularly in settings such as pharmaceutical manufacturing and compounding areas. These classifications specify the maximum allowable concentrations of airborne particles per cubic meter of air.

In both Class 7 and Class 8 environments, the particle size of 0.5 µm is significant because particles of this size are relevant to microbial and particulate contamination control. In these classifications, environments are assessed based on the number of particles larger than this size since they can be critical in contamination risk, particularly in sterile compounding.

Understanding these standards is crucial for IV technicians because maintaining appropriate environments reduces the risk of complications due to contamination. Therefore, 0.5 µm serves as a key particle size threshold when assessing both Class 7 and Class 8 standards in controlled environments, making it the correct choice in this scenario.