What does MPW mean in MEDICAL

Medical Pathological Waste (MPW) is a type of biomedical waste that is produced from medical and pathological procedures. It typically comes from discarded infectious or contaminated biological materials or products.

Proper handling of MPW involves using protective gear such as gloves, masks, goggles, respirators, lab coats and other personal protective equipment; as well as safe practices such as isolating it in containers before disposing of it at an approved facility.

Yes, MPW can contain liquid, solid and even hazardous chemicals which makes it potentially dangerous if not handled properly.

The most common types of MPW include sharps waste like needles, syringes, blades and lancets; human tissues like organs and body parts; medical devices like stents; chemical wastes like laboratory reagents; pharmaceuticals like drugs; clinical wastes such as cotton swabs; radioactive material like X-rays; and pathological wastes including human cadaver remains.

You should always contact your local health department for approved disposal methods for any type of biomedical waste including pathological waste. However, generally all biomedical waste needs to be stored separately from regular trash in secure containers before being sent to an approved disposal facility for destruction or incineration.