Medical Pathological Waste (MPW)

Management Procedures for types of MPW Decontamination of MPW MPW Box MPW Collection
Definition	Waste with actual or perceived presence of pathogenic agents. Some MPW, except for dense materials (e.g., body parts, animal carcasses or tightly packed material) can be decontaminated and then disposed of as general waste.
Contaminated with hazardous material	For disposal of MPW which contains or is contaminated by radioactive material or hazardous chemicals, refer to the Multihazardous Waste Section.
Examples: Material always treated as MPW	Some material is always treated as MPW; examples include: Material which looks like medical waste such as animal carcasses, anatomical or pathological waste organs or tissue from humans or animals "Sharps" (scalpels, razor blades, Pasteur pipettes); all needles and syringes Animal bedding contaminated with pathogenic agents or trace amounts of cytotoxic agents Any material potentially contaminated with cytotoxic drug(s): empty cytotoxic drug vials, cytotoxic drug dispensing apparatus
Examples of MPW which can be converted to general waste through decontamination/inactivation	Liquid clinical specimens (urine, feces, blood) Patient care materials: towels, absorbent material, or similar materials Cultures and media For assistance with decontamination procedures, call your Safety and Health Specialist, 301-496-2346

Decontamination/Inactivation
Disinfectants	Suitable chemical disinfectants are: Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) (NSN-681 0-00-598-7316), and Wescodyne (NSN-6840-00-526-1129)
Store Safely	Steam Sterilization/Autoclave Use autoclavable Biohazard bags imprinted with process indicator: (small: NSN-6530-01-282-6378; medium: NSN-6530-01-142-2255; large: NSN-6530-01-218-4644 ) Place in pan for transporting and autoclaving Add 250 ml water to the autoclave bag BEFORE closing, secure with autoclave tape Process for 30 minutes at 121° Centigrade Cool, discard bag and contents; use the Disposable labware & Broken Glass container Box")

MPW Collection Services
	After 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, weekends or holidays, animal carcasses and putrescent material should be stored in an appropriate refrigerator or freezer until disposal is available. Use explosion-safe units if the animals have been euthanized with ether.
Building 10	Packaged and labeled MPW will be picked up from laboratories and patient care areas	7:30 a.m. -4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday (except holidays)

Buildings 10C, ACRF, Animal facilities in Building 10	Packaged and labeled MPW will be picked up from the 10C elevator lobby	7:30 a.m. -4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday (except holidays)

Building 49	Packaged and labeled MPW will be picked up by animal caretakers from the service corridors and transported to the loading dock	7:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays)

Other NIH Buildings on campus, including animal facilities	Take packaged and labeled MPW to building loading dock or designated cold room	7:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays)

NIH buildings off campus	Take packaged and labeled MPW to building loading dock	Collected on scheduled days

Spills or Emergencies -	On Bethesda campus	911 (NIH response)
	Off campus in MD	9-911 (Montgomery County response)
Safety and Health Specialists	301-496-2346
Health Physicists	301-496-5774
Chemical Waste	Pickup: 301-496-4710	Assistance: 301-496-7990
Multihazardous Waste	Pickup: 301-496-4710 or 301-496-4451	Assistance: 301-496-7990
Radioactive Waste	Pickup: 301-496-4451	Assistance: 301-496-5774
Medical Pathological Waste, MPW	Pickup: 301-496-7990	Assistance: 301-496-2346
Recycling Waste	Pickup: 301-496-7990	Assistance: 301-496-7990
Information on Moving Laboratories
Chemical Move	301-496-7990
Radioactive Material Move	301-496-5774
Biohazard Material and Laboratory Clearance	301-496-2346