Destruction and Disposal of Expired Media-SOP

1.0 OBJECTIVE :
  • To provide a Procedure for destruction and disposal of Expired Media.
2.0 SCOPE :
  • This procedure applies only for Microbiological media.
3.0 RESPONSIBILITY :
  • Microbiologist
4.0 ACCOUNTABILITY:
  • Head of Department
5.0 PROCEDURE :
  • Check stock of available media with expiry date in first week of every month. 
  • Sort out the media which are going to be expired in that month for disposal.
  • Remove all contents of the expired media and dissolve or make a slurry of media in hot water.
  • Autoclave the solution / slurry of at 121°C at 15 lbs for 15 minutes, for deactivation of microbial activity.
  • Discard the solution / slurry in drain, and destroy the packs by cutting the pack labels into pieces, such that the identity of the pack is completely destroyed.
  • Dispose the glass /plastic bottle through scrap.
  • Record the destruction and disposal of the expired media pack in Media Stock format.
6.0 ABBREVIATIONS:
AbbreviationExpanded form
SOPStandard Operating Procedure
°CDegree Celsius
lbsLibra (Roman term)

7.0 ANNEXURES:

Nil

8.0 SOP REFERENCES:
  • Indian Pharmacopoeia

END OF THE SOP