#LABORATORY WASTE TREATMENT HOW TO#

Pathological and large tissue wastes are biohazard wastes that require incineration rather than sterilization as a final treatment. Pathological and large tissue (yellow bag) waste

#LABORATORY WASTE TREATMENT HOW TO#

Laboratory wastes (such as cultures, biological agents, and associated lab items) that are infectious to humansįor more details on how to properly dispose of infectious waste, please visit the healthcare infectious waste section of our website.

Live or attenuated vaccines that are infectious to humans.Common red bag wastes in a laboratory setting include: Oftentimes this waste is then compacted and sent to a special landfill. The primary treatment for this waste is by autoclaving (sterilization) at a licensed disposal facility. The red bag waste stream is appropriate for (1) blood waste, (2) laboratory waste, and (3) regulated human body fluids. Reagents such as “Solution A” are toxic and must be treated as hazardous wasteįor more details on how to properly dispose of RCRA (chemical) waste, please visit the healthcare hazardous waste section of our website Infectious (red bag) wasteīiohazard infectious waste is commonly called “red bag waste” in healthcare.Hemocue Hgb cuvettes are reactive and must be treated as hazardous waste.Ictotest tablets (both unused AND used) are corrosive and must be treated as hazardous waste.Wright’s stain is ignitable and listed as D001 and F003 and must be treated as hazardous waste.Parrafin/xylene is ignitable and listed as D001 and F003 and must be treated as hazardous waste.Clinitest tablets (both unused AND used) are reactive, corrosive, and MN01 lethal.Fixatives such as B-5 and Zenker’s are hazardous waste for the toxicity characteristic (mercury).Examples of chemical waste in a clinical laboratory may include: A common alternative is to use a staining rack placed over a tray so that you can easily collect the used stain for hazardous waste disposal. The solutions must be evaluated before they are diluted by the rinsing process, and generators who intend to discharge waste to a sanitary sewer must notify their publicly owned treatment works (POTW), also known as wastewater treatment plant, before discharge. When solutions are rinsed off slides or equipment and discharged to the sewer, this is considered disposal.

Due to the vast number of chemicals used in a clinical laboratory, you will likely need to have an expert evaluate your laboratory wastes to ensure you are in compliance with disposal your hazardous waste disposal company should be able to provide this service to you. Product inserts may fail to disclose information about small amounts of preservatives and contaminants, even though the product may still be considered hazardous under RCRA or MN01 lethality laws. Laboratory waste from analyzers, calibrators, cleaners, reagents, stains, and test kits must be evaluated to determine whether they are hazardous.Ĭhemical constituents, contaminants, and preservatives found in laboratory chemicals may be considered hazardous at very low levels. Numerous chemicals used in laboratories must be managed for disposal, and most of the time this means in the RCRA hazardous waste stream. This section contains information on correct disposal as well as environmental best practice for managing laboratory wastes. Environmental & Best Practice for Managing Laboratory WasteĬlinical laboratories generate three primary types of waste: chemical waste, infectious (biohazard) waste, and pathological (large tissue) waste.

Laboratory waste treatment