← All Posts


How to Label Medical Waste

2 1

Biohazardous waste, which includes clinical medical waste, biomedical, sharps, and infectious material, can be contaminated with body fluids and blood after a medical procedure. They can easily transmit infections to human beings and the environment.

  

The following is a process of disposing and labeling biohazardous waste:

  

Storage and Packaging

  

For solid materials, place two red biohazard bags in a leakproof container that has a tight-fitting rid.

  • For liquid biohazards such as specimens, store them in a vacuum flask with a stopper and put the vacuum flask in a secondary or outside biosafety cabinet.
  • However, infectious waste should be disposed of within seven days.
  •   

    Labeling

      

    Put the biohazard symbol both in the sides and on the lid of the container. Use the content labels written ''Tissue culture media disinfected with bleach 9.1.''

       

    Treatment

      

    A biowaste vendor can do off-site treatment. In the case of ABSL-2 or BSL-3, steam and sterilize in an autoclave.
  • For liquid waste, you can dilute it with bleach and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Note that for chemical disinfectants, the only approved solution remains to be UCSD bleach.
  • However, if you want to use alternative disinfectants for liquid hazardous waste, you can send an email to our website or consult other experts.
  •   

    When disposing of the solid waste, tie the neck of the bags and put it in a gray plastic waste container which also has a biohazard symbol

      

    For treated liquids, you can pour the treated liquid materials at a laboratory sink when wearing personal protective equipment.

      

      Final Word

      

    In conclusion, medical centers should properly label their medical waste material for the sake of members of the public and employees. Even if there are no legal requirements, hospitals should take it upon themselves to place warnings indicating hazardous nature.