Infection Control & SafetyQuestion 61 of 100
How should used needles and lancets be handled in the clinic?
a.Recap them with two hands and place them in a red bag
b.Place them uncapped, immediately after use, into a labeled puncture-resistant sharps container, replacing the container before it is overfilled
c.Break the needle off the syringe and discard both in regular trash
d.Store them in a cardboard box until enough accumulate for pickup
Explanation
Contaminated sharps go directly into a closable, puncture-resistant, leakproof sharps container labeled with the biohazard symbol, and containers are replaced routinely rather than overfilled. Two-handed recapping is prohibited because it is a leading cause of needlesticks. Breaking or bending needles and using ordinary trash or cardboard creates a serious puncture and exposure hazard.
Law Reference: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)Practice all 100 questions free — no signup required.
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