Autoclaveable Biohazard Bags

Biohazard infectious waste is typically collected at the point of generation in such places as hospital laboratory and operating areas, pharmaceutical, biological, university and other related laboratories. The most widely used container of such waste is plastic bags.

State regulations demand the proper handling and disposal of such waste. Within these regulations are clear specifications for the film from which such bags are made.

In all cases, proper containment of hazardous infectious material requires the bags to meet various strength standards. Individual States regulate separately, resulting in range specifications. All States require a clearly stated need for the bag to resist a specified impact to reduce the likelihood of bursting. Some States go further, requiring a minimum resistance to tearing, so as to reduce likelihood of a puncture, propagating into a major opening.

Infectious waste can be rendered sterile with the use of high temperature steam as gained in the use of autoclaves. Such sterile waste is then allowed in landfill. The bags must clearly show that the bag of hazardous material has been autoclaved. Tufpak accomplishes this at no added cost by imprinting a message of compliance, which is not readable until proper autoclaving has been achieved.

Infectious waste can also be incinerated (before or after) as long as it is handled in bags meeting the strength specifications in related states. Incineration is under recent examination because of the possible atmospheric contamination of Dioxins from incineration.

Tufpak manufactures three qualities of these bags:

• High Density Polyethylene; autoclaveable to 250°F; meets Impact Strength for all 50 States.
• Polypropylene; autoclaveable to 275°F; meets Impact Strength for all 50 States.
• Polypropylene; autoclaveable to 275°F; meets Impact Strength for all 50 States; meets Tear Strength for all 50 States**.

The different qualities have related costs and some will pay no higher than they deem necessary or required, thus the reason for different quality. Sterility is achieved faster at 275° than at 250°.

** Many states do not have a tear resistance requirement, but Florida and Pennsylvania have a high requirement of tear resistance at 480 gm; Tufpak is the only approved supplier meeting the tear requirement of 480 gm for autoclaveable polypropylene.

If you generate infectious hazardous waste, the small added cost of bags that meet all regulations seems miniscule as compared to the consequence of a spill and a regulatory action. Tufpak will supply the minimum level of compliance or a higher level of safety required by some agencies.