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NCC, through partnerships, brings aseptic training to eastern North Carolina

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Local and industry leaders toured Nash Community College’s aseptic clean room Tuesday, December 15, 2015 during the opening event.

Nash Community College celebrated the opening of its aseptic clean room Tuesday, December 15, 2015. Located in the College’s new Continuing Education and Public Services Building, the 913 square foot room was funded through a Golden LEAF grant. Local and industry leaders toured the aseptic lab during the event.

Initial conversations about offering aseptic training in Rocky Mount began about four years ago. Pfizer Plant Manager Marty Nealey shared with attendees the pharmaceutical plant has historically sent employees to Maryland for the same type of industry training. The plant donated a component filling machine and supplies to the lab in support of the local training. Nealey explained that 25 percent of sterile injectable drugs administered in the United States are made at Pfizer in Rocky Mount; and with Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies located in eastern North Carolina, the training will be a valuable asset to the region. The first classes will be held in the lab in early 2016.

The aseptic lab contains three stations simulating a real-world sterile working environment including a gowning station, filling line and observation area where students can learn lab procedures for gowning, filling, sampling, sanitation and more. “Nash Community College is one of only a few facilities in North Carolina where aseptic training is offered. This adds another dimension to the College’s strategic response to industry needs,” NCC President Dr. Bill Carver said. “Training in the laboratory will prepare locals to achieve a living wage, and will help attract and retain professionals in our community.” The room is equipped with a specialized high-efficiency particulate air filtration system installed by Filtration Technology in Greensboro, NC, which moves 100 feet of new air into the room every 50 seconds.

Nash Community College opened its new state of the art 78,000 square foot Continuing Education and Public Services Building this summer, adding 31 classrooms and nine labs to the campus. It has enhanced the College’s ability to meet the growing needs of the community and supports local economic development as continued industry and customized workforce training needs are met.