Biohazardous waste demands a different disposal process than other items you might throw in the trash, like discarded food. Any object suffused with blood, bodily fluids or pathological materials must be processed in accordance to state regulations, lest they damage the environment, harm human beings or spread infectious diseases. While regulations vary state-to-state, they invariably result in enormous fines—and even prison time in some cases. Though severe, these penalties are designed to stymie an ongoing problem. Agencies like the World Health Organization regularly highlight the costs of improper medical waste disposal, like the inundation of contaminated syringes in low-income nations. A person who suffers an injury from an incorrectly disposed syringe, according to the agency, has a 30 percent chance of developing HBV from an infected source patient. Incorrect disposal methods can also contaminate a city’s water supply, pollute the air with toxins and injure landfill workers. Because of the dangers of improper biohazard disposal, you should be aware of the precautionary techniques that professional cleanup technicians follow to responsibly remove infectious waste.

First, it’s helpful to define biohazard waste and the materials that constitute it. Simply put, biohazard waste is trash that has the potential to transmit a disease. Because the phrase carries such a broad definition, it is generally divided into five subcategories that require separate cleanup procedures. They are outlined here:

1)     Sharps

Any biohazard that can puncture the skin adopts the rather colloquial designation “sharps.” Used syringes, knives, scalpels, broken glass and microscope slides fit under this definition. Among the various categories of biohazard waste, sharps should be approached with the most caution. Someone who hasn’t been formally trained in biohazard cleanup can easily cut themselves if they aren’t careful, which will surely result in a trip to the hospital. According to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, biohazardous sharps must immediately be disposed of in a properly labeled biohazardous sharps container. As their name implies, these containers have been specially designed to collect sharps in a safe and simplistic manner. You can purchase sharps containers online, but you should only do so if you’re planning to transport the waste to a proper disposal site. These supervised collection sites include hospitals, pharmacies, universities, police stations, health departments, fire stations and doctor’s offices.

2)     Solid Waste (Non-Sharp)

Solid, non-sharp objects contaminated with blood, bodily fluids or other potentially infectious materials fall under this category. They include medical gloves, used gauze, linens, towels, plastics, non-glass containers and other personal protective equipment. If the object can splinter or break apart (i.e. glassware), it should be treated as a “sharp.” All solids should be stored in a thick, leakproof container fitted with a lid. Make sure your container is properly labeled and lined with a biohazard disposal bag. You can find biohazard waste containers online, but from here, you must contact a certified medical waste disposal contractor for pickup. They will proceed to sterilize the contents of the container and dispose of the materials in accordance with state law.

3)     Liquid Waste

Liquids such as blood, saliva, semen, breast milk, biological culture mediums and other blood products qualify under this category. Like with solid waste, these fluids must be stored in a properly labeled, leakproof container. The University of Tennessee in Knoxville recommends placing the container in a larger receptacle for safety. You can disinfect the product by adding bleach proportionate to 10 percent of the container’s entire volume, but we recommend that you call a certified medical waste disposal contractor if you are untrained in this procedure. Refrain from disposing the product down the sink or dumping it somewhere outside your home. Even if the solution has been diluted, you will risk damaging the environment and subjecting others to harmful pathogens.

4)     Pathological Waste

Pathological materials include human and animal tissues, organs and body parts (teeth are an exception). We recommend that you immediately contact a licensed medical waste disposal contractor if you come across one of these items. Proper storage procedures involve placing the waste into two properly labeled leakproof biohazard bags. When transported, these bags should be contained in a secondary storage unit—a tray or plastic container—for additional security. Disposal teams will usually incinerate the items.

5)     Microbiological Waste

Unless you’re a medical professional, you are least likely to encounter microbiological waste. It’s almost always found in laboratories, and includes items used to handle biological cultures—such as dishes, mixing devices and other tools. Laboratory personnel generally handle waste disposal on site. If you encounter any of these items, contact a certified medical waste disposal contractor immediately. 

Bio-One’s certified technicians frequently work with clients to remove biohazardous materials safely, courteously and privately. Please contact us if you have any questions. We’re available every hour of the day. 

You’ve probably seen grey lockboxes with biohazard stickers mounted to walls in pharmacies and libraries and wondered what they are. These containers have been implemented in public institutions to contain sharps waste, a dangerous kind of medical refuse. Referred to colloquially as “sharps” in the health care industry, this category of infectious waste includes anything that can pierce the skin. Needles, knives, scalpels, broken glass, lancets and razors are included under this definition. As are syringes, which tend to feature in the most publicized examples of sharps mismanagement. For instance, CBS News reported that officials in San Francisco collected 13,000 used syringes off the streets in March 2017. While these numbers were certainly amplified by the opioid crisis, this extreme example illustrates why everyone must take precautions to ensure that discarded needles are properly disposed of. Moreover, it underscores the fact that this is a ubiquitous and contemporary issue in the US. What makes sharps so dangerous is that they’re almost always contaminated with someone else’s body fluids. When the instrument pierces another person’s skin, it can easily transmit bloodborne pathogens like HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. To suppress the spread of disease, you’ll need to know how to dispose of sharps properly.   

            Allowing a trained medical professional to handle sharps is ideal. But some situations may require you to dispose of them yourself. If you need to pick one up off the ground, be sure you’re wearing thick, puncture resistant gloves and that you’re walking slowly. Point the tip away from your body and from others, and dispose of the item in a secure sharps container as quickly as possible. Regulated by the FDA, these containers are distinct for their red, puncture proof exterior and clear top. They are also marked by the internationally recognized biohazard symbol, which looks like three rings pinned together concentrically by a nail. You will find these at a number of disposal sites in your state. They include hospitals, some libraries, pharmacies, universities, police stations, health departments, fire stations and doctor’s offices. Wall mounted sharps containers come in red and grey, and look like lockboxes. If you are unsure, an official collection box will always carry the biohazard symbol.

Often times you’ll need to transport the item to one of these disposal sites. Placing sharps in a puncture proof, leak proof container is required to avoid an accident. While the vessel can be something mundane, like a bleach container, be sure to mark it as hazardous for additional safety. Although this process is inconvenient, the law mandates that you dispose of sharps at a collection site. So make sure you never throw them in the trash or flush them down the toilet. Doing so puts trash collectors, landfill operators, sewage workers, children and other household members at risk. Do not place sharps in a container that is overflowing, and never try to force them inside. If you are stuck with a sharp, wash the wound with soap and water, and seek immediate medical attention.

Bio-One transports and disposes of medical waste daily. Contact us if have any questions about sharps management. We’re available to help 24/7/365. 

A recent outbreak of MRSA at University of Pittsburgh’s Medical Center Children’s Hospital had people talking about the infection’s scariest attribute: It’s resistance to antibiotics. This tenacious staph infection affected 12 people in the intensive care unit—six of them babies—raising concerns about the bacteria’s contagiousness and apparent invulnerability. Fortunately, the disease can be treated, though it may be difficult to do depending on the location of the infection on the patient’s body. Here, we’ll break down what MRSA is, the symptoms you should be looking out for, and how to prevent it.

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is a highly contagious staph bacteria that infects the skin and resists numerous antibiotics—including methicillin, which once successfully treated staph infections. In the past, doctors over-prescribed penicillin-related antibiotics like methicillin, allowing the bacteria to develop a heightened tolerance for them. Now treatment typically involves drainage of the infected area, culture testing of pus from the wound and stronger antibiotics. Though the infection is relatively uncommon—94,000 Americans are affected each year, and 19,000 die—two out of 100 people carry MRSA, according to the CDC.  The bacteria do not usually cause a serious infection in carriers, but it can develop in others if it enters their bloodstream.

Symptoms arise when a red, swollen abscess appears on the body. It tends to look volcanic, with a white bump appearing between an area of reddened skin. Touching it will cause pain, but if you suspect you have the infection, gently feel the abscess to check if its emanating heat. If it is, you’re likely affected by a bacterial strain of some kind, and should seek a doctor for consultation. Pus and other drainage will likely ooze out of the affected area, and you’re likely to develop a fever. Although these symptoms are associated with MRSA, recognizing them on your body does not necessarily mean you have developed this specific infection. Only a doctor can make that distinction. While you don’t need to make a trip to the emergency room, you’ll want to make an appointment quickly. If left to fester, MRSA will infect the matter beneath the wound, which can result in a life-threatening situation. You will need to cover the abscess immediately, however. The bacteria will spread to every surface is touches, raising the chances that you will infect someone else.

Though MRSA is highly contagious, prevention is relatively easy. Washing your hands thoroughly—especially after hospital visits—will deter the infection almost entirely. Make sure you scrub them for 15 seconds and you use soap. Hand disinfectr brands with an alcohol content of at least 60 percent will also help you kill the bacteria. Of course, you’ll also need to cover up open wounds. A clean bandage will do, but make sure you change them regularly. While these instructions seem obvious, it is critical that you follow them because of how effective MRSA is at sticking to surfaces for lengthy periods of time. Depending on the type of material, the bacteria will remain for several days, weeks and even months. Washing your hands and covering your wounds will do much to quell the spread of the infection. You should also avoid sharing personal items like towels, razors, clothing and cosmetics. Because MRSA abscesses will spread germs to any item it touches, the bacteria will enter your bloodstream through open wounds and orifices if you are not careful.

            Bio-One is happy to answer any questions you have about preventing the spread of MRSA. Our phone lines are open 24/7/365.

Not many people know that biohazard cleanup companies like Bio-One exist. Clients turn to us during moments of crisis in their lives, and hence, don’t usually discover who we are until they require a service. This lack of awareness is understandable. People don’t expect awful tragedies like homicide and suicide to affect their families. But the resulting unfamiliarity can generate mystique around our role here at Bio-One. It’s true that we specialize in crime scene cleanup and decontamination services. We also remove clutter in hoarding situations, eradicate stubborn odors and disinfect property tarnished by animal waste. But in our view, the role of Bio-One is more involved than that. We are here to help you during your time of greatest need. So we treat our jobs like first responders do, prioritizing the people in our communities when they need us most.

That’s why we’re always on stand-by. If you need to reach out to us, our phone lines are always open, no matter what time of the day it is. When you give us a call, we’ll immediately connect your request to the nearest team of cleanup technicians so that they can proceed in assisting you. Why does our perpetual availability matter to us? Because we never want someone to feel like they must confront a painful and daunting situation by themselves. We’re always ready to step in so you can focus on healing.

But consistency is not enough. For our clients, the road to recovery requires a rapid response on our part. We share your sense of urgency and understand that you need your property restored promptly. Our teams strive to arrive on site within an hour. In most situations, we don't collect payment until after a job has been completed. It’s the least we can do to ensure your needs are met first and foremost. That’s why our company motto is “help first, business second.” We prioritize your well-being over our bottom-line. When prices are discussed, you’ll notice that 95 percent of the work we do is covered by insurers. This coverage makes us one of the most affordable cleanup crews in town.

We also pride ourselves on being the most compassionate company in the industry. When you contact Bio-One, we are duty-bound to protect your privacy and provide you with superior customer service. We’ll arrive on site in unmarked vans to keep the job discrete. Moreover, our decontamination teams are trained to help you through a difficult situation. Not only will the service we provide be efficient and effective, it will be conducted in a manner that’s respectful of you, your family and your home. Your satisfaction is our guarantee.

Bio-One is also here to keep you safe. Biohazardous materials that are not properly disinfected create significant health risks. They are also dangerous to clean up, requiring specialized equipment designed to protect the user from unwanted viruses, noxious fumes and physical hazards. Proper sanitation requires an exhaustive process that only the professionals are qualified to handle. We dispose of biohazardous materials in accordance with state law to protect people and the environment from harmful toxins. You also don’t want to clean up the aftermath of a suicide or homicide yourself. Doing so will surely intensify your emotional trauma, making it more difficult to recover. Our disinfection process eliminates tenacious viruses safely and comprehensively, restoring both your property and your peace of mind.

We consider ourselves part of the communities we serve, so please reach out with any questions about biohazard safety, suicide prevention and more. We are here to help in every way that we can. 

Blood spills are more dangerous than you may realize. Depending on the size of the spill, they can carry hundreds of trillions of viruses, some of which may be infectious. Spread through open wounds, sores and other orifices (i.e. eyes, nose, mouth), these disease-carrying microorganisms—or pathogens—can cause severe illness or death if left untreated. Though the risk of infection depends on the volume of blood involved and the pervasiveness of the virus, it is prudent to consider how to protect yourself against different types of bloodborne viruses. Although they are easily preventable, contracting one demands urgency. As their name suggests, these pathogens travel through the bloodstream infecting host cells and disrupting the body’s biological machinery. As the virus multiplies, cells will die or function improperly, leading to distressing side effects. Here are some of the most common bloodborne infection you should be aware of:

Hepatitis A—Hepatitis A infects the liver. Though the virus commonly comes from food and water contaminated by feces, it can be transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids, such as semen, breast milk and saliva. It is extremely contagious, but given the availability of effective vaccines, most people are able to make a full recovery.

Hepatitis B—Hepatitis B is another highly contagious and severe liver infection that can be spread through blood and bodily fluids. Young people—particularly infants—are more at risk of developing a chronic infection than adults, which can lead to long-term side effects, liver failure and cancer. People infected with acute—or short-termed—hepatitis B are most likely to make a full recovery.

Hepatitis C— This viral liver infection is transmitted blood-to-blood and usually results in a chronic illness. Though hepatitis C is curable today, more than half of those infected are unaware that they have the disease. Unlike hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccine. Treatment involves 12 weeks of oral medication.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)—HIV destroys cells that combat infections. If untreated, it will progress until the infected person contracts AIDS—the final stage of the disease. Spread through unprotected sex, exposure to blood and shared hygiene instruments, HIV affects 1.1 million people today. An effective cure has yet to be developed.

How to protect yourself—The safest way to protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens is by avoiding blood spills and practicing safe, protected sex. Refrain from sharing razors, needles and toothbrushes as well, which may carry traces of blood from someone else. Smaller blood spills—such as those caused by nose bleeds or minor head injuries—can generally be disinfectd safely at home through tight gloves and protective eyewear.

But you’re going to want to contact the professionals for anything larger. Allowing trained specialists to do the work protects you from accidental blood exposure and ensures that your property is thoroughly disinfected. Bio-One hires certified technicians to comprehensively and efficiently clean biohazardous blood spills. Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions or concerns. We’re always available to assist you. 

When a loved one commits suicide it’s fair to assume that first responders will decontaminate the scene. But they don’t, creating yet another dilemma for families who are freshly traumatized by a sudden and devastating loss. Driven to remove the memory from your home as quickly as possible, your first impulse may be to clean the space yourself. But there are several reasons why you shouldn’t take on this burden.

For one, suicide cleanup is a traumatic and overwhelming experience of its own. Although you may think you can push through this task by suppressing your emotions, you’re at risk of developing PTSD and prolonging your grief. It's best to avoid the scene and leave this process to the professionals.

Additionally, you may be subject to harmful diseases if you don’t clean up the scene properly. Pathogens linger long after a surface has been scrubbed, leaving you and your family at risk of developing bloodborne infections like Hepatitis C and HIV if your cleaning process has not been thorough enough. Certified specialists in biohazard remediation are the only people qualified to perform this intensive work. Let them restore your home with the assurance that it will be sanitary.

Bio-One is here to help in this regard. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need assistance. We’re on standby 24/7, every day of the year, and are always available to answer any questions you might have.