Where do Hospitals Dispose of Blood from Medical Waste?
3/27/2023
Blood is considered a biohazardous waste and as such, must be treated with critical care to avoid the spread of infections. Its highly infectious nature poses a great threat to human health because it may contain infectious agents that include hepatitis B and HIV.
1. Segregation and collection
The first critical step in disposing of blood is ensuring that it is appropriately collected in biohazard bags that are well-labeled. The word biohazardous waste must be written on the label of these bags, which are then segregated from other types of waste and collected for further processing.
2. Transportation
After collection, blood waste is transported to a processing facility. Specialized transport vehicles are used and they must comply with the set regulations of biohazardous waste. They should be in a position to prevent leakage and exposure.
3. Treatment
Various methods can be applied to treat blood. For instance, incineration can be used to destroy infectious agents that may be present in the blood.
Autoclaving can also be used to subject blood to high pressures steam and sterilize it. Special chemicals are usually used to neutralize infectious agents in the blood and make it non-infectious.
4. Landfill disposal
The last process is disposing of blood in a landfill. The biohazardous waste landfill is lined with multiple layers of protective material that prevents contamination of the groundwater and soil.
Final words
The most critical step in disposing of blood is ensuring that it is collected properly to avoid leakage and loss. Treatment is also important in ensuring that the blood is transformed into a noninfectious form that will not cause any harm to people and the environment.