Labeling—what must not appear on waste labels?

• A. Always include patient identifiers on waste labels.
• B. Include only the department number on labels.
• C. Do not place patient identifiers on waste labels; identify waste type, generator, and date instead.
• D. Label must be handwritten and unreadable.

Answer: (C)

Labeling biomedical waste must protect patient privacy while providing enough information to track and dispose of the waste safely. Do not place patient identifiers on waste labels. Instead, the label should clearly show the waste type, the generator (the facility or department responsible for producing the waste), and the date the waste was generated or placed in the container. This combination ensures proper handling and disposal while minimizing exposure of protected health information if labels are handled outside secure areas.

Including patient identifiers would risk exposing PHI and violate privacy protections. Listing only a department number doesn’t provide the necessary details to identify the waste and verify its proper disposal. Labels should be legible and durable, not handwritten and unreadable, to prevent misidentification and ensure compliance.