Dealing with medical waste

Published: 2-May-2007


Regulated Medical (Biohazardous) Waste (RMW) accounts for 15-20% of the solid waste produced by healthcare facilities in the US.

The largest percentage of this waste is processed in autoclaves prior to final disposal in landfills or solid waste incinerators. Advancements in biological indicators and self-contained temperature recorders have permitted OnSite Sterilisation, to complete comprehensive testing of this treatment technology. OnSite ceo Robert Lewis said: "Our six months of extensive testing and development have revealed the challenges presented by this variable waste stream and have allowed us to offer a solution."

Autoclaving is an accepted alternative to incineration for the treatment of RMW, largely based on its long history of effectiveness in sterilizing medical devices. OnSite's extensive testing of its VariClave, a variable cycle autoclave, has proven that different components of the waste stream require different operating protocols for effective treatment. The indications from OnSite's testing are not that medical waste autoclaves are ineffective, but rather that regulatory standards and practice should require thorough, equipment specific testing to establish cycle protocols that meet efficacy standards.

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