39 Biosafety Manual E. Disposal and Disinfection of Biohazardous Materials University Policies The Sharps and Biohazardous Waste Procedure specifies proper procedures for treatment and disposal of biohazardous waste, according to applicable federal, state, and local laws as well as university policies. The Sharps and Biohazardous Waste Disposal Flow Chart may be posted near waste handling areas in the laboratory for quick reference. Supplies Most supplies for decontaminating biohazardous waste, such as autoclavable biohazard waste bags, sharps containers, and labels, may be purchased through Central Stores. The biosafety staff of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) can provide assistance with finding supplies for special disposal needs. What If I Do Not Have Waste Handling Facilities? If facilities for decontaminating biohazardous waste, such as autoclaves, are not available in a given work area, arrangements can be made with EH&S for disposal. Submit a request online for pick-up of your contaminated waste. Autoclaves Elements Required for Effective Autoclave Use Autoclaves must be properly used to effectively sterilize their contents. Autoclave use for microbiological media preparation requires various time and temperature settings for sterilization. Individual trials should be done to to determine the loading and time settings to achieve sterilization. Autoclaving biohazardous waste must take into account the volume of waste and the ability of steam to penetrate the load. The minimum autoclave cycle time for biohazardous waste is 45 minutes at 121°C. The following elements all contribute to autoclave effectiveness: • Temperature - unless specifically instructed by media manufacturers’ directions, autoclave chamber temperature should be at least 121°C (250°F). • Time - Autoclave cycle time will vary according to the contents of the autoclave. If media is to be prepared, then the manufacturers’ instructions should be followed. Adequate autoclaving time for biohazardous waste is a minimum of 45 minutes, measured after the temperature of the material being
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxNzMxNA==