NCEZID Innovations: Laboratory Science

Leaky bags is never a problem you want when handling biohazardous waste. Disposing of waste that contains infectious materials must be done with utmost caution. Biohazardous waste disposal is a far-reaching issue, affecting laboratories and hospitals that regularly decontaminate biohazardous waste. Autoclaving, the method most commonly used to inactivate infectious substances before the waste is sent to a landfill, uses heat, steam, and pressure to kill organisms that can cause diseases. The effectiveness, however, varies depending on the type of autoclave, the material involved, the containers used, and other factors. Closing autoclave bags too tightly, for example, can cause pressure to build up and bags may explode. Preparing waste properly is vital to effective decontamination.

In 2017, a team of NCEZID experts researched ways to improve laboratory waste management practices. They spent countless hours investigating how to improve the autoclave process. For example, they found that it is not necessary to add water to autoclave pans or bags for decontamination, and now insert a plastic pipe as the bag is closed, to leave a standardized opening for steam to pass through. These and other improvements reduce the chance of waste exposure. Experts used results of this research to inform autoclave safety training for laboratorians and to update procedures for disposing of soft waste versus hard waste, labeling waste, and more. There are plans for this research to be published to help laboratories reduce the risk of exposure to infectious waste for their employees and the greater community.

Download printable PDF version: Innovations to Stop Emerging and Zoonotic Infections [32 pages]