Infection Control · single question

Per OSHA's definition of regulated medical waste (items contaminated with blood/OPIM capable of releasing these fluids), which item is most clearly regulated waste?

  1. Broken glass contaminated with blood/OPIM (regulated both as a sharp AND as blood-contaminated material)
  2. An unbroken, used local anesthetic glass carpule with only trace residual fluid
  3. A clean, unopened glove box
  4. A disposable napkin/bib with no visible contamination
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Correct answer: A. Broken glass contaminated with blood/OPIM (regulated both as a sharp AND as blood-contaminated material)

Broken glass contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM) is unambiguously regulated waste — it qualifies both because sharps are automatically regulated regardless of contamination level, AND because it is itself contaminated with blood/OPIM. An intact, used anesthetic carpule with only trace fluid is a more ambiguous case that may not meet OSHA's specific 'capable of releasing fluid when compressed' threshold for regulated waste status, depending on the actual amount of contamination present.

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