Natural Sciences Department
School of Integrated Studies
Klump Academic Center, Rm. 102 · (570) 327-4521
Definition of Infectious Waste
The definition of infectious waste contained in the regulations is as follows:
"...Municipal and residual waste which is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, immunization or autopsy of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, in the preparation of human or animal remains for interment or cremation, or in the production or testing of biologicals, and which falls under one or more of the following categories:
- Cultures and stocks. Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals, including the following: cultures from medical and pathological laboratories; cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories; wastes from the production of biologicals; discarded live and attenuated vaccines except for residue in emptied containers; and the culture dishes, assemblies and devices used to conduct diagnostic tests or to transfer, inoculate and mix cultures.
- Pathological wastes. Human pathological wastes, including tissues, organs, body parts and body fluids that are removed during surgery, autopsy, other medical procedures or laboratory procedures. The term does not include hair, nails or extracted teeth.
- Human blood and body fluid waste and items contaminated with the same.
- Animal wastes. Contaminated animal carcasses, body parts, blood, blood products, secretions, excretions and bedding of animals that were known to have been exposed to zoonotic infectious agents or nonzoonotic human pathogens during research (including research in veterinary schools and hospitals), production of biologicals or testing of pharmaceuticals.
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Isolation wastes. Biological wastes and waste contaminated with blood, excretion, exudates or secretions from:
- Humans who are isolated to protect others from highly virulent diseases.
- Isolated animals known or suspected to be infected with highly virulent diseases.
- Used sharps. Sharps that have been in contact with infectious agents or that have been used in animal or human patient care or treatment, at medical, research or industrial laboratories, including hypodermic needles, syringes (with or without the attached needle), pasteur pipettes, scalpel blades, blood vials, needles with attached tubing, culture dishes, suture needles, slides, cover slips and other broken or unbroken glass or plasticware.
In summary, Infectious Waste is any laboratory-generated waste that is or may be contaminated with disease-causing bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other pathogen; OR any item that has been used in recombinant DNA work.