Waste Management Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Point-of-Care Testing

When disposing of waste generated from SARS-CoV-2 point-of-care testing, laboratories and testing sites shouldtreat all waste from suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient specimens and kit components as biohazardous waste. Since waste regulations vary from state to state, disposal must comply with all applicable local, regional, national, and international regulations. Personnel should follow guidance according to federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial regulatory requirements.

Facilities should also perform a site-specific and activity-specific risk assessment to identify and mitigate risks. Risk assessments and mitigation measures are dependent on several factors:

• The procedures performed
• Identification of the hazards involved in the process and/or procedures
• The competency level of the personnel who perform the procedures
• The laboratory equipment and facility
• The resources available

Follow Standard Precautions when handling clinical specimens, all of which may contain potentially infectious materials. Follow routine laboratory practices and procedures for decontamination of work surfaces and management of laboratory waste.

Additional resources include:   

• Interim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with COVID-19
• Information for Laboratories about COVID-19
• Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 for Laboratories
• Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL)
• CDC's Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS)
• Register for CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) notifications, including updates about COVID-19. Enter your email address, search for HAN, and sign up.  
• If you have any additional questions, please contact [email protected].