Disposal of labeled specimen collection devices
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Aloha all,
A question came up regarding disposing labeled specimen collection devices in sharps. There was mixed answers indicating that we should pull the label before we drop it in the sharps. We have always trained our staff to dispose their labeled collection devices into the sharps because it proves that those devices were labeled. The concern was that since our sharps are not incinerated but processed offsite and eventually the bins are recycled, this may be a HIPAA violation.
How are the sharp containers processed at your facility?
Do you have the staff remove the labels before dumping them into the sharps containers?
Mahalo,
Shana
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Good question. I guess I have always assumed that our offsite waste handlers are handling sharps contents with the same patient confidentiality guidelines as non-sharp biohazardous waste - but I have never really asked. Since a sharps container could also contain non-biohazardous items, like discarded patient medication with a label on it - I assumed that this was a given. But perhaps we should investigate as well.
We also put our labeled specimens in a sharps container. To take the label off of each sample before disposing would not only take a long time, but then you are placing contaminated labels in a confidential bin to be destroyed. That does not seem like a good idea.
We do not remove the labels before tossing them. The sharps and biohazard trash will be incinerated anyway.
Jeremy Williford, PBT (ASCP)
Point of Care Support Specialist, Clinical Laboratory Services
South Georgia Medical Center | 2501 N Patterson St. | Valdosta, GA 31602
229.433.4804 (office) |
229.433.4836 (fax)
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WE do not take labels off syringes because the Joint Commission inspectors
look at the sharps containers to make sure the syringes are labeled for ABG.
Our are incinerated. I did not know there is another way to dispose of sharps.
I had one inspector that shook the container to make sure all the syringes are labeled.
You would not think but that is their way of checking you for labeling specimens.
TJC is shaking the sharps containers?! (I've never seen this in ambulatory but we use wall-mounted sharps so guess we deter that!) I thought they were looking in to see how far up the 'fill' was - or - were looking to see if RCRA meds were being disposed of in incinerated sharps.
Back to Shana's concern, if unsure that confidentiality is guaranteed by contractor, on hospital end you could consider buying/using a 'black out' label. We use those for urine cups in POCT where we are allowed to dispose of the urine down the drain in soiled utilities (cannot use the sink then for handwashing FYI!) and toss the cup into regular trash *except we have to use the 'blackout' labels*. The labels have some sort of dark adhesive. One cannot pull off the 'blackout' label without pulling off the confidential info along with the blackout label. TJC would know about blackout labels so they'd know underneath was the patient label (thus verifying the syringe had been labeled).
Frankly I'd never want staff to handle the spent syringe by pulling off the labels. Then I can picture staff would stick the label into their scrub pockets...
Just a thought, Peggy
Not to mention creating a risk for splash hazards, while attempting to remove an adhesive label from a spent container.
We're going to investigate exactly what our sharps-processing steps are once the containers leave the facility's grounds, but I am not seeing how they would be any less safe with regard to protected health information than our other biohazardous trash is (like cans full of labeled vacutainer tubes) that get incinerated offsite. You could find issues with that process as well.
Those companies who dispose our biohazard material are educated on HIPAA and PHI.
They have to sign contracts that they are liable if any info on patients got out because of their negligence.
But we always hear horror stories on some companies who do not follow the rules.