Pathological waste disposal from laboratories or diagnostics facilities must also undergo certain processes that follow federal as well as state laws. It is highly recommended that all waste streams be properly segregated and labeled as close to the point of origin as possible. Such standards can be applicable to pathological waste disposal depending on the specific scenario.

Other agencies often make their own recommendations as well, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that focuses on safety with their Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. While the wording and descriptions for pathological waste may not be the same in every state, they typically have the same guidelines for labeling pathological waste. Refer to state government websites or agencies for detailed information regarding segregation and disposal practices. However, it’s important to know your own state’s guidelines in regard to the handling, packaging, transportation, and disposal of pathological waste. Following guidelines provided by the CDC is also recommended. When it comes to pathological waste guidelines, it’s important to comply with the regulations of the federal government via the EPA. Each of those waste streams also has specific guidelines for handling, storage, and disposal.Īny bags, bins, or boxes containing pathological waste should be labeled with clear stickers or placards that specify that the waste is “incineration only” waste. Pathological waste must be segregated from other types of RMW, including sharps and chemotherapy waste. However, while regulated medical waste can typically be treated by autoclave to achieve sterilization, depending on state regulations, most pathological waste must be processed through incineration, which is a much hotter treatment that reduces the contents to dust or ash. Pathological waste is considered a regulated medical waste (RMW). Knowledge of infection control guidelines and processes in any healthcare facility along with adequate training regarding infection control prevention is essential for safety and compliance. Other more common dangers of contaminated pathological contaminants can include anything from smallpox to AIDS viral components. Recombinant nucleic acids and/organisms, or other “genetic elements” Viruses that include hemorrhagic fever viruses, tick borne viruses that cause encephalitis, Ebola virus, and so forth

These include:īacteria such as Yersinia pestis ( simply known as Y pestis) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), identifies a number of potential contaminants, toxins, or agents that may be found in pathological waste, particularly in biopsy or testing samples. Potential contaminants in pathological waste Care must be taken when handling such specimens as they maybe infectious or dangerous in some way. In most cases, pathological waste is the result of research or testing requirements. Pathological waste can be the tiniest slice of tissue or microbiological specimen that is required for some testing research. As another guideline, pathological waste is typically of a smaller nature than some sort of human anatomy or anatomical waste, which implies body parts.

This definition does not include body parts or tissues that are chemically stored, such as in the cases of formaldehyde.

While the wording and descriptions of pathological waste may differ dependent on source, the term “pathological waste” implies tissue samples or cultures and may also include fluids that are removed due to autopsy, surgical medical procedures, or even trauma. This can include organs, tissues, surgical specimens, and bodily fluids removed during surgery or autopsy. Pathological waste is defined as any human or animal body parts. So what is it and how is it properly handled?Ģ / Potential Contaminants in Pathological Waste One waste stream that can be tricky to properly define is pathological waste. Identification of different kinds of medical waste streams is an essential part of the healthcare waste management process that encourages safety, reduces injury or exposure to potentially contaminated waste, and most importantly, maintains compliance with state and federal regulations for disposal.

Pathological waste includes