Definitions

1. As used in this article, "regulated infectious waste" means an infectious waste which is listed in subdivisions a through g of this subsection. Ash from incineration and residues from disinfection processes are not infectious waste once the incineration or the disinfection has been completed. a. Cultures and stocks. Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals, including cultures from medical and pathological laboratories; cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories; wastes from the production of biologicals; discarded live and attenuated vaccines; and culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures. b. Pathological waste. Human pathological waste, including tissues, organs, and body parts and body fluids that are removed during surgery or autopsy, or other medical procedures, and specimens of body fluids and their containers. Human body fluids include: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids. c. Human blood and blood products. Liquid waste human blood; products of blood; items saturated or dripping with human blood; or items that were saturated or dripping with human blood that are now caked with dried human blood (including serum, plasma, and other blood components, and their containers) and are capable of releasing these materials during handling. d. Sharps. Any contaminated object that has been used in animal or human patient care or treatment or in medical, research, or industrial laboratories, that can cut or penetrate the skin. This includes hypodermic needles, syringes (with or without the attached needle), pasteur pipettes, scalpel blades, blood vials, needles with attached tubing, culture dishes (regardless of presence of infectious agents), and exposed ends of dental wires. Also included are other types of broken or unbroken glassware that were in contact with infectious agents, such as used slides and cover slips. e. Animal waste. Contaminated animal carcasses, body parts, and bedding of animals that were known to have been exposed to infectious agents during research (including research in veterinary hospitals), production of biological, or testing of pharmaceuticals. f. Isolation waste. Biological waste and discarded materials contaminated with blood, excretion, exudates, or secretions from humans who are isolated to protect others from highly communicable diseases, or isolated animals known to be infected with highly communicable diseases. "Highly communicable diseases" means diseases, such as those caused by organisms classified by the federal centers for disease control and prevention as biosafety level IV organisms, that, in the opinion of the infection control staff, the department, local health officer, attending physician and surgeon, or attending veterinarian, merit special precautions to protect staff, patients, and other persons from infection. "Highly communicable diseases" does not include diseases such as the common cold, influenza, or other diseases not representing a significant danger to nonimmunocompromised persons. g. Unused sharps. This waste includes the following unused, discarded sharps: hypodermic needles, intravenous or other needles, hypodermic or intravenous syringes, suture needles, or scalpel blades. 2. As used in this chapter, "disinfection or disinfect" means treatment or processing of infectious waste so that it poses no risk of infection or other health risk to individuals handling or otherwise coming into contact with the waste. The term includes autoclaving, chemical disinfection, radiation and irradiation, and incineration.