Over the past few months, Controlled Environments has included some general survey questions in the weekly E-newsletter. The questions were asked to gauge interest in topics as well as to take a look at some trends. Earlier this year, we asked about your biggest cleanroom challenges. The answers varied among staff compliance with SOPs, human contamination, and testing.

Another survey question on the use of water-based vs. solvent cleaners led to an idea by Barbara Kanegsberg to interview industry experts to get their views about this ongoing topic. The result was the article Water Versus Solvents, with the second and final installment on process trends, selection, and the future in this issue.

A few weeks after each survey, the results are posted on the website. Currently, two pie charts show the responses to questions on AMC monitoring. Our latest survey on USP <797> included an incentive. Shawn Rollins of Val Tech Holdings participated in the survey and was randomly drawn to win a copy of the Guidebook for General Chapter <797>. The responses to question, “What area of USP <797> are you most concerned with?” showed that all four options, environmental monitoring, aseptic technique, gowning, and building a sterile compounding area were all areas of interest.

We will hone the questions and go more in-depth on topics as time goes by. Please keep an eye out for upcoming surveys. Ideas for survey questions are also welcome. Our goal is to uncover some shared cleanroom challenges and address those concerns in upcoming issues of the magazine and E-newsletter.