While our business is focused on microsampling devices and solutions for easy blood sampling and processing, some of our customers in the science and medical fields have faced demanding and expensive challenges in storing whole blood. Blood, like any other biohazardous material, can pose significant difficulties with regard to its disposal.
Biohazard waste, or hazardous waste, in the United States must go through a specific disposal cycle determined by guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Center for Disease Control (CDC) also offers guidelines for the removal and treatment of biohazard waste that are implemented within the standards and practices of each state, center, university, facility, or organization.
If you cannot avoid mixing non-hazardous and hazardous waste, everything is classified as hazardous and must be disposed of accordingly.
You also need to sort out needles and sharp objects and put them in puncture-proof, tamper-proof containers. It is essential that sharp object containers are not overfilled. Generally, containers should only be filled to 75% capacity.
Some guidelines indicate that you can also include low-level radioactive infectious waste if the waste is due for incineration.
Highly infectious waste must be sterilized using autoclaving (high temperatures and high pressures). The containers need to be strong enough to support the process.
When the waste is in decay, the labeling must include the type of radionuclide, the date of packaging and required storage conditions.
If you are dealing with large quantities of chemical waste, you must collect it in a labeled container that can resist reaction with the chemicals it contains. Chemicals should never be mixed, and should ideally be sent to specialized treatment facilities. However, you need to store anything containing high levels of heavy metals (like cadmium and mercury) separately from other waste.
You need to place cytotoxic waste — waste that has a toxic effect on living cells — in clearly labeled, robust, and leak-proof containers. The containers must then be stored separately from any other biohazard waste.
Regardless of the type of waste, all containers and bags should be appropriately labeled with the following information:
As with sharp-object boxes, you should only fill waste bags to 75% capacity. All bags and containers should be sealed tightly (not stapled) and be ready for transport by suitable means to their end destination. When you need to transport waste internally for storage, the modes of transportation should be cleaned, disinfected and checked for sharp edges that could damage the waste containers.
Internal storage areas should be separate from areas used for other activities. Non-hazardous waste should not be stored for more than 48 hours in the summer and 72 hours in the winter, depending on the climate. Longer storage is permissible if the space is refrigerated. The flooring of the storage room needs to be impermeable, easy to clean and have excellent drainage.
You need easy access to the storage facility for collection, as well as a plan for regular collection of waste with all precautions and transport arrangements in place. The company collecting the waste must meet local regulations, be duly registered, and have all required licenses and paperwork. The vehicles themselves should close and lock and be designed to reduce the risk of damage to the bags or containers. Staff should have suitable protective clothing and the necessary equipment to deal with spills or leaks.
Biohazard waste is treated to eliminate, or at least reduce, the risks to people and the environment. Treatment must be carried out by a registered company and follow set procedures to ensure there are no adverse effects. Once treated, waste can be transported to a landfill.
There are several ways in which biohazard waste can be treated.
One of the most common is through incineration, which involves exposing the waste to temperatures that are high enough to kill any organic substances that may be found in the waste. That includes viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. The waste is usually converted into ash and gas, and this often needs to be cleansed further before it can be considered harmless and be released.
Autoclaving can also be used to treat biohazard waste. This process uses a chamber that is steam-heated and highly pressurized to sterilize the waste. When used on plastic, the waste can be entirely melted down and completely free of pathogens.
Bleach is also used to disinfect biohazard waste, particularly chlorine-containing compounds. The chemicals in bleach (hydroxy peroxide) start a redox chemical reaction in the chemicals in the waste, rendering the waste non-hazardous (the process is called dichlorination).
Finally, the process of alkaline hydrolysis (more commonly known as biocremation or resomation) can be used. The process is generally carried out by funeral homes as an alternative to cremation or burial. It reduces the emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants found in more traditional processes.
Related reading can be found in our Microsampling Blog. To learn more about how microsampling is applied in different industries, please visit our resource page on Microsampling Applications:
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