What is the Beyond Use Date (BUD) for immediate use preparations?

The Beyond Use Date (BUD) for immediate use preparations is set at 1 hour. This specific time frame is established to ensure the safety and efficacy of compounded sterile preparations that are intended for immediate administration. When a preparation is made and not intended for storage, it is crucial to minimize the risk of microbial contamination, which can occur if the preparation is left standing for too long prior to administration.

This stringent 1-hour guideline is rooted in the understanding that immediate use preparations are typically prepared in situations where a patient needs prompt treatment, often in emergency circumstances, and the risk of compromising the integrity and sterility of the product increases with time. Therefore, limiting the BUD to just 1 hour helps to ensure that patients receive medication that is both safe and effective, while also aligning with the standards set forth in sterile compounding regulations.