Waste Minimization in Healthcare : Vyleater
Posted on Wed, Apr 08, 2009 @ 12:12 PM
By Ian Lanza, Operations Coordinator
ThinPrep Pap tests have broken into the healthcare industry as the most effective method for screening cervical cancer. ThinPrep tests have become a very effective tool in diagnosing cervical cancer as well as Chlaymidia Trachomatis and Neisseria Gonorrhea. The increased use of ThinPrep tests in Cytology and Histology departments requires proper disposal of the waste generated from the tests.
The waste that remains in the ThinPrep vial is generally methanol, as well as a human component. ThinPrep vials must be collected, shipped, and disposed of as hazardous waste in accordance with 49 CFR 170. The vials can be collected and shipped in a DOT rated container, however a 55-gallon drum of ThinPrep vials may only contain three or four gallons of hazardous waste.
A Vyleater is a machine that grinds the vials and separates the hazardous liquid from the plastic vials. The broken plastic is collected as municipal waste, while the hazardous waste is collected separately. By segregating the hazardous waste from plastic, and consolidating the hazardous waste, a Vyleater can be a useful waste minimization technique. The Vyleater comes in many different sizes to accommodate different operations.