Medical Pathological Waste (MPW)
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Management Procedures for types of MPW Decontamination of MPW MPW Box MPW Collection
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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Decontamination/Inactivation |
Disinfectants |
Suitable chemical disinfectants are:
- Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) (NSN-681 0-00-598-7316), and
- Wescodyne (NSN-6840-00-526-1129)
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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")
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MPW Collection Services |
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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.
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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) |
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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) |
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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) |
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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) |
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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) |
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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 |
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Chemical Move |
301-496-7990 |
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Radioactive Material Move |
301-496-5774 |
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Biohazard Material and Laboratory Clearance |
301-496-2346 |
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This page last updated on Mar 27, 2006
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