vincristine

Re: vincristine

Rob Davis — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:49:34 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]As for sterility, sensible pecautions obviously but if anything can survive in a bottle of something as evil as vicristine it deserves to live and cause whatever infection it can![/quote]

Fair play - I hadn't considered that!

Re: vincristine

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:05:38 GMT

I have had no issues with part-using vincristine and saving it for the next dose, but as you're likely to use it fairly quickly again on a chemo course its not going to be hanging around for long anyway. What health and safety would have to say I don't know but so long as the rubber seal isn't leaking I can't see an issue and I would store it upright in the original packaging. As for sterility, sensible pecautions obviously but if anything can survive in a bottle of something as evil as vicristine it deserves to live and cause whatever infection it can!

Re: vincristine

David Killick — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:46:21 GMT

Hi,

You should check with the manufacturers in question but I have previously been told use upto 28 days after opening is OK provided good care is taken to maintain the sterility of the bottle (wearing gloves (a no brainer obviously) and alcohol swabbing the bottle top before and after use.

Hope that helps,

David

Re: vincristine

Rob Davis — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:11:46 GMT

I believe all human drugs are single use only (just as many anaesthetic circuits and ET tubes are labelled single use only). I have no idea whether or not you could get away with making multiple withdrawals from the vial, but I suspect there will be no preservative, so possibly problems with contamination (which may be more significant in a patient on immunosuppressive medication). I have always discarded any unused vincristine and charged the owner for a full vial each time. I suspect if the owners are committed enough to go for chemotherapy, they are unlikely to want to risk problems to save a few quid. I wait to stand corrected by those with more specific knowledge...

I suspect the rubber bung is there to reduce the risk of spillage rather than to allow repeated withdrawals.