Linda,
We do the same here. Our tissue is stored in "seal a meal" Heavy Duty Kapak bags until the investigator is ready to let it go. Then we cut a small corner off the bag, dump the formalin in a waste container, reseal the bag and put it into a biohazard bag for the hospital to dispose of.

Betsy Molinari HT (ASCP)
Texas Heart Institute
Cardiovascular Pathology
6770 Bertner Ave.
Houston,TX 77030
832-355-6524
832-355-6812 (fax)


-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Rene J Buesa
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 1:54 PM
To: Linda Stirpe; HistoNet Server
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Disposal of surgical specimens

Linda:
  We used to separate formalin from the tissue. Formalin was placed in large drums to be hauled away by a company we contracted. The tissues were incinerated at the hospital (something that probably you will not be able to do). Otherwise the tissue should be handled as any other biohazard sample within the lab.
  Hope this will help you!
  René J.

Linda Stirpe  wrote:
  I know this subject has been previously discussed but
now it has become an issue at our facility. We are a
small hospital processing about 5,000 surgicals/year. 
Currently, we dispose of the specimens with fixative
by placing them in biohazard containers and then 
hauled off site. The safety committee now has concerns
that the specimen is a biohazard and the formain is a
hazardous waste and should be separated for disposal
purposes. We are interested in how other hospitals
handle this. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you!

Linda Stirpe, HT(ASCP)
Corning Hospital
Corning, NY 


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