Which publication defines compressed medical gas cylinders that meet the purity standard for human use?

The correct choice is based on the role of the U.S. Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.) in establishing standards for the quality, purity, strength, and consistency of medications and their components, including medical gases. The U.S.P. provides detailed specifications that ensure compressed medical gas cylinders are safe for human use, adhering to strict purity standards necessary to prevent contamination and ensure patient safety.

The U.S.P. is a recognized standard-setting organization that formulates official compendia for various substances, including those administered via medical gas systems in healthcare facilities. This is critical in ensuring that gases like oxygen and nitrous oxide meet the required standards before they are used in medical treatments.

Other publications, while relevant in their own contexts, do not specifically address the purity standards for compressed medical gases in the same thorough manner as the U.S.P. FDA guidelines focus more broadly on the approval and regulation of drugs and medical devices but do not specify purity standards for medical gases. OSHA standards are concerned with occupational safety, and AMA regulations pertain mainly to medical ethics and practices rather than specific material standards for medical gases. Thus, the U.S.P. stands out as the authoritative source for defining the purity of compressed medical gas cylinders intended for human use.