[Histonet] Tissue disoposal/formalin

[Bacon, Charles]

We use SteriCycle. We decant off all formalin and put the tissue in double red bagged biohazard boxes for incineration. The boxes are hauled by them and we have manifests in triplicate that are retained by our Safety department. Anyone signing the manifest needs to attend the training for the Mass DPH on how to handle haz-waste so you know what you are signing. We keep a binder of the manifests copies and we receive in the mail the original manifest stamped "destroyed" once that is done. We keep all records for three years. I don't know what other states require. I have a procedure to share if you want it. Feel free to reach out. 

Chuck Bacon, HTL(ASCP)CM 
Histology Supervisor
Baystate Health System
361 Whitney Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040
p:413-322-4786|f: 413-322-4790
Charles.Bacon at baystatehealth.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Piche, Jessica <Jessica.Piche at wtbyhosp.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2023 2:01 PM
To: Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Subject: [Histonet] Tissue disoposal/formalin

Good Afternoon,

I have a question regarding the dumping of tissue. How are your laboratories dumping tissue when it is time for disposal? Are you putting the specimens with 10% neutral buffered formalin in the waste containers and a company comes and removes them from your facility? I would appreciate any information that you can share.

Thank you,

Jessica Piche

Jessica Piche, HT(ASCP)
Waterbury Hospital Histology Laboratory
Histology Team Leader
203-573-7167