Pharmaceutical Cleanroom Environmental Monitoring Checklist

Cleanroom environmental monitoring programs protect product sterility and quality. This checklist verifies all EU GMP Annex 1 and FDA guidance environmental monitoring requirements for pharmaceutical cleanroom operations.

  • Industry: Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences
  • Frequency: Daily (Critical Areas) / Weekly (Supporting Areas)
  • Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes
  • Role: QA Officer / Microbiologist
  • Total Items: 31
  • Compliance: EU GMP Annex 1 (2022) - Manufacture of Sterile Medicinal Products, FDA Guidance for Industry - Sterile Drug Products Produced by Aseptic Processing (2004), ISO 14644-1 - Classification of Air Cleanliness, USP <1116> Microbiological Examination of Nonsterile Products

Non-Viable Particle Monitoring

Verify non-viable particle monitoring.

  • Particle counter calibrated and within certification date?
  • Particle sampling performed at all required monitoring locations per SOP?
  • Grade A non-viable particle counts within EU GMP Annex 1 limits?
  • Grade B non-viable particle counts within limits?
  • Particle monitoring data recorded in environmental monitoring log?

Viable Environmental Monitoring

Verify viable monitoring samples.

  • Settle plates exposed at required locations for correct exposure time?
  • Active air samples collected with calibrated RCS or similar device?
  • Contact plates and swabs collected from critical surfaces?
  • Personnel gown sampling (gloves, gown) performed per program?
  • All viable samples submitted to microbiology lab with chain of custody?

Physical Parameter Monitoring

Verify temperature, humidity, and pressure.

  • All room pressure differentials within required limits (typically 10-15 Pa between grades)?
  • Room temperatures within validated limits?
  • Relative humidity within validated limits (typically 30-65% RH)?
  • All HVAC systems operating with no alarms or shutdowns?
  • Air change rates verified by recent HVAC qualification?

Gowning and Personnel Controls

Verify gowning compliance.

  • All personnel following approved gowning procedure?
  • All personnel gown-qualified with current gowning qualification records?
  • No exposed skin observed in Grade B or A areas?
  • No personnel with illness, open wounds, or skin conditions in cleanroom?
  • Personnel behavior compliant - no unnecessary movements, talking, or touching?

Alert and Action Limit Trending

Review EM trending for exceedances.

  • No action level exceedances in current monitoring period?
  • Alert level exceedances investigated and trend documented?
  • EM trending reviewed for adverse trends requiring proactive action?
  • Any contamination events investigated with root cause and CAPA?
  • Monthly EM summary report prepared and reviewed by QA?

Documentation

Verify EM documentation.

  • Environmental monitoring log current for all sampling?
  • Incubation temperature records for EM plates on file?
  • Organism identification performed for recovered isolates per program?
  • Annual EM program review completed to verify alert and action limits remain appropriate?
  • EM records retained per site document retention schedule?
  • Daily/weekly EM monitoring report completed and filed?

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Why Use This Pharmaceutical Cleanroom Environmental Monitoring Checklist?

This pharmaceutical cleanroom environmental monitoring checklist helps pharmaceutical & life sciences teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for qa officer / microbiologist professionals, this checklist covers 31 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: daily (critical areas) / weekly (supporting areas).

Ensures compliance with EU GMP Annex 1 (2022) - Manufacture of Sterile Medicinal Products, FDA Guidance for Industry - Sterile Drug Products Produced by Aseptic Processing (2004), ISO 14644-1 - Classification of Air Cleanliness, USP <1116> Microbiological Examination of Nonsterile Products. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Pharmaceutical Cleanroom Environmental Monitoring Checklist cover?

This checklist covers 31 inspection items across 6 sections: Non-Viable Particle Monitoring, Viable Environmental Monitoring, Physical Parameter Monitoring, Gowning and Personnel Controls, Alert and Action Limit Trending, Documentation. It is designed for pharmaceutical & life sciences operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed daily (critical areas) / weekly (supporting areas). Each completion takes approximately 20-30 minutes.

Who should use this Pharmaceutical Cleanroom Environmental Monitoring Checklist?

This checklist is designed for QA Officer / Microbiologist professionals in the pharmaceutical & life sciences industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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