Antineoplastic drugs are prepared in which type of hood?

• A. Vertical Flow Hood (No Laminar Flow)
• B. Laminar Flow Hood With Certification
• C. Biological Safety Cabinet With Negative Pressure
• D. Class II Or Class III Biosafety Cabinet

Answer: (A)

Handling antineoplastic drugs requires an engineering control that contains the drug and protects the worker from exposure. A vertical flow hood directs air downward through filtration, creating a downward curtain of clean air that helps keep any aerosolized drug near the work surface and away from the operator’s breathing zone. Because the airflow is directed away from the user and toward the exhaust, it reduces the chance that fumes or particles reach the clinician, which is why this setup is chosen for hazardous drug preparation in many practice contexts. Laminar-flow hoods, by contrast, protect the product and can funnel contaminants toward the operator, making them less suitable for hazardous drug handling. While a biosafety cabinet with negative pressure offers strong containment, the question focuses on the hood type, and the vertical downflow arrangement is the one emphasized for safer antineoplastic preparation in this context.