Blood product disposal system and method

A method of decontaminating the disposing of an absorbent pad containing menstrual blood comprising:

• a) supplying a non-porous bag having a first outer wall and a second outer wall spaced from the first wall, the bag containing an object located between the first outer wall and the second outer wall, the object comprising an disinfecting material, the first outer wall of the bag having a openable portion capable of being opened no greater than a preset length to allow the object located between the first and second outer walls to be removed through the opening thus formed, the bag further having a flap attached thereto, the flap having an inner surface positioned to cover the openable portion after opening, the flap carrying an adhesive strip on the inner surface, the adhesive strip being larger than the largest preset length of the opening, the adhesive being covered by a removable protective film,
• b) creating an opening in the openable portion of the first wall of the bag,
• c) removing the disinfecting material from the bag and bringing the disinfecting material into contact with a pad containing menstrual blood to define a combination,
• d) placing the pad and the disinfecting material combination back through the opening int eh bag wall so that the pad and disinfecting material combination is fully contained in the bag,
• e) removing the protective film to expose the adhesive on the flap,
• f) placing the adhesive strip on the flap over the opening in the first wall of the bag so that the adhesive strip completely surrounds the opening, and
• g) disposing of the bag and its contents in a suitable waste receptacle.

A system for receiving, decontaminating and disposing of a blood-containing menstrual pad comprising:

• a non-porous bag containing structure for opening and resealing the bag a single time, and a disinfecting agent for microorganisms in blood contained in the bag,
• the structure for opening and resealing the bag being an openable portion in a first wall thereof and means for sealing the openable portion after opening, the sealing thereof not being reversible without destroying the sealing means,
• the bag being non-pervious to its contents prior to opening of the openable portion in the wall, the openings formed being suitable for placing a blood containing menstrual pad into contact with the disinfecting agent in the bag and being non-pervious to its contents after the opening in the wall is resealed,
• wherein the disinfecting agent is chosen from the group consisting of chlorine-releasing materials, peroxide-releasing materials, iodine-releasing materials and a combination of two or more of the chlorine-peroxide-, and iodine-releasing materials, and
• the disinfecting agent is made available in a form chosen from the group consisting of a liquid carried by a porous substrate, a dry form which can be activated by contacting the disinfecting agent with moist blood on the pad, and a dry or liquid disinfectant material enclosed in a frangible container.

A process to destroy microorganisms in menstrual blood comprising:

• bringing a pad containing menstrual blood into contact with a disinfecting agent,
• placing the pad along with the disinfecting agent into a bag, and
• sealing the bag so its contents can not be removed without destructively opening the bag,
• the disinfecting agent being initially enclosed in the bag, the bag being openable once to gain access to the disinfecting agent.