Wickham Laboratories, a UK-based microbiology testing specialist, has completed extensive refurbishment of its new premises at Hoeford Point in Gosport, Hampshire and the validations section and QC microbiology departments now occupy the building.
The firm, which has been working for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries for nearly 50 years, has seen continuous growth, which led to the acquisition of the Hoeford Point facilities in May 2011.
Before the two departments could take occupation of the building, the former GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing site had to be converted to make it suitable for microbiology testing.
Part of the refurbishment included the creation of a new area for the media preparation department, which was built to bespoke specifications. Benching and partitioning was installed in office areas and a centralised sample reception facility was also incorporated into the design. As well as ensuring computers, networks, telephones and servers would operate as intended at the new site, much of the laboratory areas were treated to a deep clean and validated.
Laminar flow cabinets, isolators and incubators were also purchased. Thereafter laboratory environments were qualified, including water systems, autoclaves and other equipment in preparation for the transfer of work.
The first pharmaceutical microbiology department to be moved in was the validations section, which, among other things, conducts method validations, preservative efficacy and log reduction testing, identifications, media testing and biological indicator enumeration.
The move went ahead as planned in mid February and is now fully up and running with many projects already in hand and making the most of the laboratory space.
The QC Microbiology department, responsible for enumeration and absence of specified organisms testing, bioburden testing, potable water analysis and incubation/ enumeration of environmental plates moved in two weeks later, taking the incubators and laminar flow cabinets with it. All were then qualified before the laboratory began routine testing.
Sterility, bacterial endotoxin and cytotoxicity will remain at the former premises for the time being.
‘Sterility testing is our flagship microbiology department,’ the firm says. ‘The cleanroom complex at Hoeford Point required some preparation and staff from these departments are now keen to get their move underway. Qualification protocols for facilities and isolators are in place and ready to be put into practice. We expect the move of this final microbiology department to commence in mid April and to be completed by June.’
The relocation of the microbiology testing departments and toxicology unit is progressing well. A specialist contractor has completed the conversion of the existing facilities to meet the needs of the toxicology department. Appropriate trials of temperature, humidity and lighting systems have also taken place and a clean down is now underway. The firm says it intends to complete the commissioning of the department very shortly.
Wickham Laboratories is now scheduling audits of its new facility with customers. The UK MHRA is scheduled to inspect GMP and GLP compliance at Hoeford Point on 23 and 24 May.
