The use of needles and syringes, scalpels, razor blades, glass slides, Pasteur pipettes cover slips, knives, IV tubing with attached needles, capillary tubes, scissors, forceps, similar sharp items which may cause self-inoculation and other “sharps” is part of research activity.

The use of these items presents an opportunity for cuts, abrasions and puncture wounds.  This is just as true of animal-related research, whether or not infectious agents, radioisotopes or hazardous chemicals are included in your work.

Proper handling of sharps starts with the planning of the research procedures to be attempted, through to the ultimate disposal of all materials.  Understanding procedures and even taking the time to perform a “dry run” is recommended especially where valuable resources of animals and other research materials are concerned.

Part of the planning should be to minimize handling of sharps.  In particular this includes avoiding the recapping of needles, in nearly every case.  Experience shows that this is frequently the cause of needlesticks. 

When working with animals, keep in mind the potential for zoonotic infection.  Many experimental procedures with animals also involve the use of cytotoxic drugs, chemical agents and other potentially hazardous materials.  Appropriate use of personal protective equipment, in this case, gloving, should be outlined in the experimental plans or Standard Operating Procedures.

To prevent needlestick injuries, needles should not be recapped, purposely bent, or broken by hand, removed from disposable syringes, or otherwise manipulated by hand. Only luer-lock syringes should be used to aspirate fluids from animals infected with human pathogens or zoonotic disease agents so that collected fluid can be safely discharged.

Should you determine that there are valid reasons to recap needles it is incumbent upon you as the researcher to develop the standard operating procedures for your laboratory, and specific to your research.  For example, document in written form when and how to perform such procedures.

The proper disposal of all sharps should be planned as well. The vivarium provides adequate sharps containers in procedure rooms and in animal rooms.  In some instances carelessness with respect to disposal has been noted, when investigators and research assistants have discarded sharps in regular trash receptacles. 

In your own laboratories, there should be adequate sharps containers.  These are available through OESO or commercial vendors.  They come in a variety of sizes and shapes.

Determine what works best for your area, based on space available and the convenience to the work being performed.  In one case, on this campus, needles used in one lab, were being recapped, and the needle and syringe assembly were placed back into the wrapper, and then transported to another lab for disposal.  This procedure left at least 3 opportunities for accidental needlestick to occur.  What was required, and “doable”, was to install a sharps container in the lab where the samples were collected.  This eliminated the perceived need to recap.  It also eliminated the placing of non-infectious paper waste into the sharps container.

Another instance of improper disposal may occur when animals have been removed from the vivarium for use in individual laboratories.  When the carcasses are returned to the vivarium for disposal there have been instances of sharps being left in the animal remains, which affords another opportunity for an accidental exposure to other technicians.

It is strictly prohibited to dispose of loose needles or syringes directly into red bags or household trash.  Do not attempt to force large syringes into needle buckets that are too small. 

Once a sharps container is full--usually when 2/3 to 3/4 full--the container is ready for disposal as infectious waste. All sharps containers require double-bagging in red infectious waste bags.  Seal the bags with tape or tie shut and place in a red infectious waste tub or cardboard infectious waste container.

Radioisotopes are often used in conjunction with sharps.  Radioactively contaminated sharps must be disposed of according to the rules outlined in the Radioactive Waste Disposal Procedure Manual.  Labeling requirements are different, but the need for an adequate sharps container remains the same.

If working with sharps, immediately report any cuts or abrasions that occur during this work to your supervisor and report to the occupational health clinic at University Hospital for follow-up.  This reporting should be in writing, and no later than 4 days after the injury for Workers Compensation rules to apply.

 Original Article Written By: Therese M. Stinnett