2. CONTAMINATED WASTE DISPOSAL

3. PURPOSE To ensure the protection of Ambercare personnel, patients and family/caregivers, and the community through proper handling of contaminated waste.

4. POLICY Ambercare Home Health will dispose of contaminated waste according to state and local regulations. Ambercare Home Health will educate personnel and, as appropriate, patients and family/caregivers on procedures for handling and disposing of contaminated waste

5. DEFINITIONS Contaminated Waste: Disposable materials that have been exposed to or contaminated by blood or body fluids. Infectious Wastes: Sharps: Any waste capable of producing injury, including, but not limited to, contaminated needles, syringes, scalpels and disposable instruments Blood, Blood Products, and Body Fluids: All waste blood, blood products, and body fluids greater than 20 ml (2/3 oz) in volume that exist in a free, liquid state and cannot be safely poured down a drain. Microbiological Waste: Cultures and stocks of infectious agents – including culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate and mix cultures Contaminated Lab Waste: All lab specimens consisting of blood or body fluids that cannot be disposed of by safely pouring down a drain.

6. PROCEDURE Contaminated Waste: Examples of contaminated waste include: paper wastes (disposable gloves, gowns, masks, paper towels, tubing's, dressings, etc.) The waste products should be placed in a plastic puncture resistant bag and secured. It should be double bagged (if possible) placed in a plastic trash container with a tight lid.

7. PROCEDURE CONTINUED Sharps: Needles, syringes, and razor blades must be placed in a puncture-proof container and labeled as such (all nurses should be provided with a red plastic biohazard disposable sharps container) Containers (when ¾ full) need to be returned to the office and disposed of appropriately and documented on clipboard

8. CONTAMINATED LAB WASTE Lab specimens, waste that cannot be disposed of by safely pouring down a drain, may be delivered to the lab after being bagged, securely closed and labeled Place specimen in a leak-proof, impermeable, biohazard-labeled transport container (tupperware for example) Transport to the lab and hand directly to lab personnel.

9. BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS Fluids (i.e., urine, feces, solutions, etc.) should be poured down the toilet and immediately flushed. Care should be taken to avoid splashing.