Procedure for Disposal of Media

1. OBJECTIVE
To provide a method for proper disposal of used media plates and culture tubes

2. SCOPE
It is Applicable for Media Disposal in Microbiological Lab

3. RESPONSIBILITY
• Microbiologist

4. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
• Handle the Media very carefully
• Wear the rubber hand gloves and nose mask
• Media preparation and media decontamination (used media discard) activities shall not be done simultaneously.

5. PROCEDURE
5.1 Microbial Media Plates
5.1.1 Wear rubber hand gloves and nose mask
5.1.2 Remove media content of Petri dish with the help of a spatula and collect in a stainless steel container.
5.1.3 Autoclave the stainless steel container containing media discard at 15 psi, 121°C for 30 minutes/ validated cycle.
5.1.4 After sterilization add 5% Dettol solution to the media and dilute the autoclaved contents with tap water and drain into the sink under running tap water/ ETP plant.
5.1.5 Keep the empty glass Petri dishes for 1 hr in 5% Dettol solution or Savlon solution and then wash the Petri dish with water and dry them for reuse. Disposable plates should be discarded after keeping them for 1 hr in 5% Dettol or Savlon solution.
5.2 Culture Tubes
5.2.1 Sterilize the microbial media tubes at 15 psi, 121 °C for 30 minutes/ validated cycle.
5.2.2 Drain the contents of tubes into the sink under running tap water/ETP plant.
5.2.3 Wash the empty tubes thoroughly and dry them for reuse.
5.3 Alternate Method for Destruction of Disposable Petri Dishes
5.3.1 Place the entire Petri dishes along with the media contents in a metal container.
5.3.2 Sterilize the container at 15 psi, 121 °C for 30 minutes/ validated cycle.
5.3.3 Empty the plates into a container.
5.3.4 Dilute the contents of the container with tap water and drain into the sink under running tap water/ETP plant.
5.3.5 Empty plates should be washed.
5.3.6 After completion of autoclave cycle for discarded media/cultured tube remove the culture tube/media from the autoclave and start a blank autoclave cycle without material to eliminate the possibility of any contamination.
5.3.7 Media preparation and media decontamination (used media discard) activities shall not be done simultaneously.

6. RELATED DOCUMENTS
N/A

7. DISTRIBUTION INDEX
Original Copy will be retained by Quality Assurance Department.

8. ABBREVIATIONS
ETP Effluent Treatment Plant

9. REVISION HISTORY