SIST EN ISO 13408-6:2021
(Main)Aseptic processing of health care products - Part 6: Isolator systems (ISO 13408-6:2021)
Aseptic processing of health care products - Part 6: Isolator systems (ISO 13408-6:2021)
This document specifies the requirements for and provides guidance on the specification, selection, qualification, bio-decontamination, validation, operation and control of isolator systems related to aseptic processing of health care products and processing of cell-based health care products.
This document does not specify requirements for restricted access barrier systems (RABS).
This document does not supersede or replace national regulatory requirements such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and/or compendia requirements that pertain in particular to national or regional jurisdictions.
This document does not specify requirements for isolators used for sterility testing; however, some of the principles and information in this document could be applicable to this application.
This document does not define biosafety containment requirements.
Aseptische Herstellung von Produkten für die Gesundheitsfürsorge - Teil 6: Isolatorensysteme (ISO 13408-6:2021)
Dieses Dokument legt die Anforderungen für Isolatorensysteme fest und stellt einen Leitfaden zur Spezifikation, Auswahl, Qualifizierung, Biodekontamination, Validierung, zum Betrieb und zur Kontrolle von Isolatorensystemen im Zusammenhang mit der aseptischen Herstellung von Produkten für die Gesundheitsfürsorge und der Herstellung von zellbasierten Produkten für die Gesundheitsfürsorge zur Verfügung.
Dieses Dokument legt keine Anforderungen für Barrieresysteme mit beschränktem Zugang (RABS, en: restricted access barrier system) fest.
Dieses Dokument ersetzt keine nationalen behördlichen Anforderungen, wie z. B. Gute Herstellungspraktiken (GMP, en: Good Manufacturing Practices) und/oder Anforderungen von Arzneibüchern, die insbesondere nationale oder regionale Zuständigkeiten betreffen.
Dieses Dokument legt keine Anforderungen für Isolatoren fest, die für Sterilitätsprüfungen verwendet werden, jedoch könnten einige der Grundsätze und Angaben in diesem Dokument auf diese Anwendung anwendbar sein.
Dieses Dokument legt keine Eindämmungsanforderungen für die Biosicherheit fest.
Traitement aseptique des produits de santé - Partie 6: Systèmes isolateurs (ISO 13408-6:2021)
Le présent document spécifie les exigences et fournit les recommandations relatives à la spécification, la sélection, la qualification, la bio-décontamination, la validation, au fonctionnement et au contrôle des systèmes isolateurs utilisés pour le traitement aseptique des produits de santé et le traitement des produits de santé à base de cellules.
Le présent document ne spécifie aucune exigence concernant les systèmes de barrière à accès restreint (RABS).
Le présent document n’a pas pour vocation de remplacer ou d’annuler des exigences réglementaires nationales, telles que les bonnes pratiques de fabrication (BPF) et/ou les exigences officielles, qui relèvent des juridictions nationales ou régionales particulières.
Le présent document ne spécifie aucune exigence pour les isolateurs utilisés dans le cadre d’essais de stérilité ; cependant, certains principes et informations contenus dans le présent document peuvent s’appliquer à cette application.
Le présent document ne définit pas d’exigences de confinement de biosécurité.
Aseptična proizvodnja izdelkov za zdravstveno nego - 6. del: Sistemi izolatorjev (ISO 13408-6:2021)
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2021
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 13408-6:2011
SIST EN ISO 13408-6:2011/A1:2013
Aseptična proizvodnja izdelkov za zdravstveno nego - 6. del: Sistemi izolatorjev
(ISO 13408-6:2021)
Aseptic processing of health care products - Part 6: Isolator systems (ISO 13408-6:2021)
Aseptische Herstellung von Produkten für die Gesundheitsfürsorge - Teil 6:
Isolatorensysteme (ISO 13408-6:2021)
Traitement aseptique des produits de santé - Partie 6: Systèmes isolateurs (ISO 13408-
6:2021)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 13408-6:2021
ICS:
11.080.01 Sterilizacija in dezinfekcija na Sterilization and disinfection
splošno in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EN ISO 13408-6
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
May 2021
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 11.080.01 Supersedes EN ISO 13408-6:2011
English Version
Aseptic processing of health care products - Part 6:
Isolator systems (ISO 13408-6:2021)
Traitement aseptique des produits de santé - Partie 6: Aseptische Herstellung von Produkten für die
Systèmes isolateurs (ISO 13408-6:2021) Gesundheitsfürsorge - Teil 6: Isolatorensysteme (ISO
13408-6:2021)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 7 June 2020.
This European Standard was corrected and reissued by the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre on 9 June 2021.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATIO N
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUN G
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2021 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 13408-6:2021 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the General
Safety and Performance requirements of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 aimed to be
covered. 5
Annex ZB (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the General
Safety and Performance Requirements of Regulation (EU) 2017/746 aimed to be
covered. 7
European foreword
This document (EN ISO 13408-6:2021) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 198
"Sterilization of health care products" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 204
“Sterilization of medical devices” the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by November 2021, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by November 2021.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 13408-6:2011 + A1:2013.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).
For the relationship with EU Directive(s) see informative Annex ZA and ZB which are an integral parts
of this document.
This document is an adoption of an International Standard. As the scope of the applicable regulatory
requirements differ from nation to nation and region to region, the scope of this document can differ
from the scope of the European Regulations that it supports. This document supports European
regulatory requirements only to the extent of the scope of the European regulations for medical devices
and in vitro diagnostic medical devices. For relationship with EU Regulations, see informative Annex ZA
and ZB, which are an integral part of this document.
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. However, for any use of this standard ‘within the
meaning of Annexes ZA and ZB, the user should always check that any referenced document has not
been superseded and that its relevant contents can still be considered the generally acknowledged
state-of-art.
When an IEC or ISO standard is referred to in the ISO standard text, this should be understood as a
normative reference to the corresponding EN standard, if available, and otherwise to the dated version
of the ISO or IEC standard as listed below.
NOTE The way in which these referenced documents are cited in normative requirements determines the
extent (in whole or in part) to which they apply.
Table – Correlation between normative references and dated EN and ISO standards
Normative references Equivalent dated standard
as listed in Clause 2 of the ISO
EN ISO
standard
ISO 11139 EN ISO 11139:2018 ISO 11139:2018
ISO 13408-1:2008 EN ISO 13408-1:2015 ISO 13408-1:2008
ISO 13408-4 EN ISO 13408-4:2011 ISO 13408-4:2005
ISO 13408-7 EN ISO 13408-7:2015 ISO 13408-7:2012
ISO 14644-1:2015 EN ISO 14644-1:2015 ISO 14644-1:2015
ISO 14644-7 EN ISO 14644-7:2004 ISO 14644-7:2004
ISO 18362:2016 No equivalent ISO 18362:2016
ISO/IEC/IEEE 90003 No equivalent ISO/IEC/IEEE 90003:2018
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 13408-6:2021 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 13408-6:2021 without any
modification.
Annex ZA
(informative)
Relationship between this European Standard and the General Safety and
Performance requirements of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 aimed to be
covered
This European standard has been prepared under a Commission’s standardisation request to provide
one voluntary means of conforming to the General Safety and Performance Requirements of Regulation
(EU) 2017/745 of 5 April 2017 concerning medical devices [OJ L 117].
Once this standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union under that Regulation,
compliance with the normative clauses of this standard given in Table ZA.1 confers, within the limits of
the scope of this standard, a presumption of conformity with the corresponding General Safety and
Performance requirements of that Regulation, and associated EFTA regulations.
NOTE 1 Where a reference from a clause of this standard to the risk management process is made, the risk
management process needs to be in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2017/745. This means that risks have to be
‘reduced as far as possible’, ‘reduced to the lowest possible level’, ‘reduced as far as possible and appropriate’,
‘removed or reduced as far as possible’, ‘eliminated or reduced as far as possible’, ’removed or minimized as far as
possible’, or ‘minimized’, according to the wording of the corresponding General Safety and Performance
Requirement.
NOTE 2 The manufacturer’s policy for determining acceptable risk must be in compliance with General Safety
and Performance Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 of the Regulation.
NOTE 3 This Annex ZA is based on normative references according to the table of references in the European
Foreword, replacing the references in the core text.
NOTE 4 When a General Safety and Performance Requirement does not appear in Table ZA.1, it means that it is
not addressed by this European Standard.
Table ZA.1 — Correspondence between this European Standard and Annex I of Regulation (EU)
2017/745 [OJ L 117]
General Safety and Performance Clause(s)/sub-clause(s) Remarks/Notes
Requirements of Regulation (EU) of this EN
2017/745
11.3 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 This standard provides requirements for
the specification, selection, qualification,
bio-decontamination, validation, operation
and control of isolator systems related to
aseptic processing.
This General Safety and Performance
Requirement is addressed only with
regard to devices for which use of isolators
for aseptic processing is appropriate.
In conjunction with EN ISO 13408-1, this
relevant General Safety and Performance
Requirement is only partly addressed in
this European Standard. Design and
packaging for maintenance of sterility are
not covered. Aspects of manufacture other
than those related to maintenance of a
specific microbial state by aseptic
processing within an isolator are not
covered.
11.4 first sentence only 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 This standard provides requirements for
the specification, selection, qualification,
bio-decontamination, validation, operation
and control of isolator systems related to
aseptic processing.
This General Safety and Performance
Requirement is addressed only with
regard to devices for which use of isolators
for aseptic processing is appropriate.
In conjunction with EN ISO 13408-1, this
relevant General Safety and Performance
Requirement is only partly addressed in
this European Standard. Design and
packaging for maintenance of sterility are
not covered. Evidence that the integrity of
the packaging is maintained to the point of
use is not covered. Aspects of manufacture
other than those related to maintenance of
sterility during aseptic processing within
an isolator are not covered.
11.5 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 This standard provides requirements for
the specification, selection, qualification,
bio-decontamination, validation, operation
and control of isolator systems related to
aseptic processing.
This General Safety and Performance
Requirement is addressed only with
regard to devices for which use of isolators
for aseptic processing is appropriate.
In conjunction with EN ISO 13408-1, this
relevant General Safety and Performance
Requirement is only partly addressed in
this European Standard. Design and
packaging for maintenance of sterility is
not covered. Aspects of manufacture other
than those related to maintenance of
sterility during aseptic processing within
an isolator are not covered.
WARNING 1 — Presumption of conformity stays valid only as long as a reference to this European
Standard is maintained in the list published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Users of this
standard should consult frequently the latest list published in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
WARNING 2 — Other Union legislation may be applicable to the product(s) falling within the scope of
this standard.
Annex ZB
(informative)
Relationship between this European Standard and the General Safety and
Performance Requirements of Regulation (EU) 2017/746 aimed to be
covered
This European standard has been prepared under a Commission’s standardisation request to provide
one voluntary means of conforming to the General Safety and Performance Requirements of Regulation
(EU) 2017/746 of 5 April 2017 concerning in vitro diagnostic medical devices [OJ L 117].
Once this standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union under that Regulation,
compliance with the normative clauses of this standard given in Table ZB.1 confers, within the limits of
the scope of this standard, a presumption of conformity with the corresponding General Safety and
Performance Requirements of that Regulation, and associated EFTA regulations.
NOTE 1 Where a reference from a clause of this standard to the risk management process is made, the risk
management process needs to be in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2017/746. This means that risks have to be
‘reduced as far as possible’, ‘reduced to a level as low as reasonably practicable’, ‘reduced to the lowest possible
level’, ‘reduced as far as possible and appropriate’, ‘removed or reduced as far as possible’, ‘eliminated or reduced
as far as possible’, ‘prevented’ or ‘minimized’, according to the wording of the corresponding General Safety and
Performance Requirement.
NOTE 2 The manufacturer’s policy for determining acceptable risk must be in compliance with General Safety
and Performance Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Regulation.
NOTE 3 This Annex ZB is based on normative references according to the table of references in the European
Foreword, replacing the references in the core text.
NOTE 4 When a General Safety and Performance Requirement does not appear in Table ZB.1, it means that it is
not addressed by this European Standard.
Table ZB.1 — Correspondence between this European standard and Annex I of Regulation (EU)
2017/746 [OJ L 117]
General Safety and Performance Clause(s)/sub-clause(s) of this Remarks/Notes
Requirements of Regulation (EU) EN
2017/746
11.2 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 This standard provides
requirements for the specification,
selection, qualification, bio-
decontamination, validation,
operation and control of isolator
systems related to aseptic
processing.
This General Safety and
Performance Requirement is
addressed only with regard to
devices for which use of isolators
for aseptic processing is
appropriate.
In conjunction with EN ISO 13408-
1, this relevant General Safety and
Performance Requirement is only
partly addressed in this European
Standard. Design and packaging for
maintenance of sterility are not
covered. Aspects of manufacture
other than those related to
maintenance of a specific microbial
state by aseptic processing within
an isolator are not covered.
11.3 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 This standard provides
requirements for the specification,
selection, qualification, bio-
decontamination, validation,
operation and control of isolator
systems related to aseptic
processing.
This General Safety and
Performance Requirement is
addressed only with regard to
devices for which use of isolators
for aseptic processing is
appropriate.
In conjunction with
EN ISO 13408-1, this relevant
General Safety and Performance
Requirement is only partly
addressed in this European
Standard. Design and packaging for
maintenance of sterility is not
covered. Aspects of manufacture
other than those related to
maintenance of sterility during
aseptic processing within an
isolator are not covered.
WARNING 1 — Presumption of conformity stays valid only as long as a reference to this European
Standard is maintained in the list published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Users of this
standard should consult frequently the latest list published in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
WARNING 2 — Other Union legislation may be applicable to the product(s) falling within the scope of
this standard.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 13408-6
Second edition
2021-04
Aseptic processing of health care
products —
Part 6:
Isolator systems
Traitement aseptique des produits de santé —
Partie 6: Systèmes isolateurs
Reference number
ISO 13408-6:2021(E)
©
ISO 2021
ISO 13408-6:2021(E)
© ISO 2021
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
ISO 13408-6:2021(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Quality system elements . 3
5 Basic principle of isolator systems . 3
5.1 General . 3
5.2 Negative pressure isolators . 4
6 Isolator system specification . 4
6.1 General . 4
6.2 Risk management . 4
6.2.1 General. 4
6.2.2 Negative pressure isolator systems . 5
6.3 User requirement specification . 5
7 Design of isolator systems . 5
7.1 General . 5
7.2 Materials of construction . 6
7.3 Air-handling system . 6
7.3.1 General. 6
7.3.2 Air change rate . . 6
7.3.3 Airflow pattern . 6
7.3.4 Temperature/humidity . 7
7.3.5 Particulate air specifications . 7
7.3.6 Recirculation of air . 7
7.3.7 Pressure differentials . 7
7.4 Operator interface . 7
7.4.1 Isolator gloves/sleeves . 7
7.4.2 Suits/half-suits . 8
7.4.3 Access to the isolator/transfer systems. 8
7.4.4 Devices acting as transfer ports . 8
7.5 Ancillary isolator equipment . 9
7.5.1 Portable and mobile equipment . 9
7.6 Surrounding room classification . 9
7.7 Process utilities . 9
8 Validation . 9
8.1 General . 9
8.2 Design qualification .10
8.2.1 General.10
8.2.2 Product/process application .10
8.2.3 Ergonomics .10
8.2.4 Cleaning .10
8.2.5 Bio-decontamination .11
8.2.6 Selection of bio-decontamination agent .11
8.2.7 Development and validation of bio-decontamination processes .12
8.2.8 Bio-decontamination agent generation and testing .12
8.2.9 Bio-decontamination parameters .13
8.2.10 Aeration and residue limits .13
8.2.11 Log reduction .13
8.2.12 Surface bio-decontamination of items .14
8.2.13 Development and validation of sterilization processes .14
ISO 13408-6:2021(E)
8.3 Installation qualification .14
8.3.1 General.14
8.3.2 Installation .14
8.4 Operational qualification .15
8.5 Performance qualification .16
8.5.1 General.16
8.5.2 Cleaning .16
8.5.3 Bio-decontamination .16
8.5.4 Process simulation tests .16
8.6 Review and approval of validation .16
8.7 Requalification .17
9 Routine monitoring and control .17
9.1 Procedures .17
9.2 System integrity .17
9.3 Bio-decontamination process monitoring .17
9.4 Environmental monitoring .18
9.5 Change control .18
9.6 Maintenance and calibration .18
10 Personnel training .19
Annex A (informative) Devices acting as transfer ports for portable and mobile equipment .20
Annex B (informative) Isolator system — Explanation of terms used and flow of air and
material .23
Annex C (informative) Isolator system — Direct/indirect product contact surfaces .24
Bibliography .25
iv © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
ISO 13408-6:2021(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 198, Sterilization of health care products.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 13408-6:2005), which has been
technically revised. It also incorporates the Amendment ISO 13408-6:2005/Amd.1:2013. The main
changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— changes to the Introduction;
— changes to the Scope;
— addition of the new Clause 5 "Basic principle of Isolator system";
— addition of risk management approach in Clause 6 "Isolator system specification";
— addition of new informative Annex A "Devices acting as transfer ports for portable and mobile
equipment";
— addition of new informative Annex B "Isolator system – Explanation of terms used and flow of air
and material";
— addition of new informative Annex C "Isolator system – Direct/indirect product contact surfaces "
A list of all parts in the ISO 13408 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
ISO 13408-6:2021(E)
Introduction
A health care product that is labelled “sterile” is manufactured using suitably designed, validated and
controlled processes. Wherever possible, it is terminally sterilized in its final, sealed container. When
this is not possible, the product is aseptically processed.
Aseptic processing is an exacting and demanding discipline designed to maintain sterility through all
stages of preparation, manufacturing, filling and sealing in final containers. It relies on a number of
independent factors for prevention of recontamination of previously sterilized components during the
assembly or filling of product into a final container.
An effective risk management system addressing aseptic processing design (including the use of
barrier separation technology), validation and control, and which identifies, assesses, eliminates
(where applicable) and controls contamination risks is a prerequisite to provide assurance of sterility
for aseptically processed product.
Various separation systems exist to protect the critical processing zone of an aseptic processing area
from non-viable particulate and microbiological contamination and to separate process operators from
the critical processing zone.
These systems range from controlled airflow devices based on aerodynamic protection through
to separation barriers that combine physical and aerodynamic protection to separate the external
cleanroom environment from the critical processing zone, minimizing exposure of this zone to process
operators and thereby reducing the opportunities for contamination during processing.
Isolator systems provide physical separation whilst facilitating operator intervention into the
controlled processing environment under barrier conditions typically via sealed glove-sleeve systems
that are physically connected with glove-ports to the isolator barrier screen(s). To establish a controlled
environment, reduction of viable and non-viable particulates within isolators is achieved by validated
and reproducible cleaning and bio-decontamination processes, principally achieved through the use of
automated methods.
In addition to control of bio-contamination and non-viable particulates, isolator systems can include
control features, which together with operating practices provide product containment to control cross
contamination between process contaminants and product batches, and to manage risk to operators.
vi © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 13408-6:2021(E)
Aseptic processing of health care products —
Part 6:
Isolator systems
1 Scope
This document specifies the requirements for and provides guidance on the specification, selection,
qualification, bio-decontamination, validation, operation and control of isolator systems related to
aseptic processing of health care products and processing of cell-based health care products.
This document does not specify requirements for restricted access barrier systems (RABS).
This document does not supersede or replace national regulatory requirements such as Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and/or compendia requirements that pertain in particular to national
or regional jurisdictions.
This document does not specify requirements for isolators used for sterility testing; however, some of
the principles and information in this document could be applicable to this application.
This document does not define biosafety containment requirements.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 13408-1:2008, Aseptic processing of health care products — Part 1: General requirements
ISO 13408-4, Aseptic processing of health care products — Part 4: Clean-in-place technologies
ISO 13408-7, Aseptic processing of health care products — Part 7: Alternative processes for medical devices
and combination products
ISO 14644-1:2015, Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments — Part 1: Classification of air
cleanliness by particle concentration
ISO 14644-7, Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments — Part 7: Separative devices (clean air
hoods, gloveboxes, isolators and mini-environments)
ISO 18362, Manufacture of cell-based health care products — Control of microbial risks during processing
ISO/IEC 90003, Software engineering — Guidelines for the application of ISO 9001:2015 to computer
software
ISO 11139, Sterilization of health care products — Vocabulary of terms used in sterilization and related
equipment and process standards
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 11139 and the following apply.
ISO 13408-6:2021(E)
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
ancillary isolator equipment
equipment that can be attached to or detached from the isolator whilst ensuring separation of the
internal and external environment
3.2
bio-decontamination
removal and/or reduction of biological contaminants to an acceptable level
[SOURCE: ISO 11139:2018, 3.27]
3.3
decontamination device
means used to deliver the agent for the decontamination process
3.4
isolator
enclosure capable of preventing ingress of contaminants by means of physical
separation of the interior from the exterior that is capable of being subject to reproducible interior bio-
decontamination and where operators always remain separated from the interior of the enclosure by
means of an absolute physical barrier
Note 1 to entry: If containment requirements apply (i.e. aseptic processing of hazardous materials) egress also
has to be prevented.
[SOURCE: ISO 11139:2018, 3.149]
3.5
isolator system
isolator (3.4) with transfer system(s), and ancillary isolator equipment (3.1)
[SOURCE: ISO 11139:2018, 3.150]
3.6
safety data sheet
SDS
document specifying the properties of a substance, its potential hazardous effects for humans and the
environment, and the precautions necessary to handle and dispose of the substance safely
[SOURCE: ISO 11139:2018, 3.239]
3.7
sterile barrier system
SBS
device acting as interface between the interiors of an isolator and ancillary isolator equipment (3.1)
minimum package that minimizes the risk of ingress of microorganisms and allows aseptic presentation
of the sterile contents at the point of use
[SOURCE: ISO 11139:2018, 3.272]
3.8
transfer port
interface between the interior of an isolator (3.4) and ancillary isolator equipment (3.1)
Note 1 to entry: See example figures in Annex A.
2 © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
ISO 13408-6:2021(E)
[SOURCE: ISO 11139:2018, 3.304]
3.9
transfer system
equipment and process that allows ingress and/or egress of material to an isolator (3.4) without
compromising its environmental quality
4 Quality system elements
Quality elements as defined in ISO 13408-1:2008, Clause 4 shall be implemented to assure control over
all activities affecting isolator systems.
5 Basic principle of isolator systems
5.1 General
An isolator system comprises a piece of equipment, or collection of equipment and control systems
that provides a controlled environment suitable for aseptic processing that shall be separated from the
operator and the surrounding environment using barrier technologies. An isolator system consists of
an isolator, its utilities and its surrounding environment, and can include transfer systems and ancillary
isolator equipment.
Movement of materials in and out of the isolator is a principal risk in maintaining the quality of the
controlled environment. Materials are generally loaded into the isolator before bio-decontamination.
After bio-decontamination of the isolator and during operation, ingress of materials to and egress from
the isolator shall occur via transfer systems that maintain the quality of the controlled environment.
All components, materials and equipment parts shall be sterile/bio-decontaminated before being
transferred into a bio-decontaminated isolator, unless bio-decontamination is conducted inside the
device acting as a transfer port.
Isolator systems shall be classified into open and closed systems according to the construction and
operation of
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