biohazardous waste
Contaminated medical discards
Biohazardous waste is material contaminated with biological agents that pose a threat to human health or the environment—blood, bodily fluids, used needles, laboratory cultures, pathological waste.
It requires special handling, containment, and disposal to prevent infection or contamination: The clinic has strict protocols for biohazardous waste.
Also called biomedical waste or infectious waste.
- infectiousAble to spread disease
- infectious diseasePathogen-caused transmissible ailment
- hazmatToxic materials needing precautions
- contaminatedMade impure by contact
- sharpsSymbols raising pitch
sharps container · needles · needle stick · medical · toxic · disposal · pathogen · clinical · quarantine · gloves · warning · hospital · sterile · incineration · contagion · specimen · laboratory · blood