Biomedical waste: colour coding: practice question

A Microbiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Microbiology · Biomedical waste: colour coding

Sample item

A ward nurse is discarding used intravenous tubing, urine bags and catheters. According to the Indian Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, which container is appropriate?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Red bag

Under the Indian rules, contaminated recyclable plastic waste such as tubing, bottles, intravenous sets, catheters, urine bags and syringes without needles goes into red bags for autoclaving or microwaving followed by recycling. Yellow bags carry anatomical, soiled and microbiological waste. Waste sharps go into white translucent puncture-proof containers, and glassware into blue boxes.

Option by option

  • A. Yellow bag

    Yellow is for anatomical waste, soiled waste, expired medicines and microbiology waste.

  • B. White translucent puncture-proof container

    The white container is for waste sharps including needles and blades.

  • C. Red bag (correct)

    Correct. Red is for contaminated recyclable plastics.

  • D. Blue cardboard box

    The blue cardboard box is for glassware and metallic implants.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is C, Red bag. Under the Indian rules, contaminated recyclable plastic waste such as tubing, bottles, intravenous sets, catheters, urine bags and syringes without needles goes into red bags for autoclaving or microwaving followed by recycling.

Why is "Yellow bag" not the answer?

Yellow is for anatomical waste, soiled waste, expired medicines and microbiology waste.

Why is "White translucent puncture-proof container" not the answer?

The white container is for waste sharps including needles and blades.

Why is "Blue cardboard box" not the answer?

The blue cardboard box is for glassware and metallic implants.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Biomedical waste: colour coding in Microbiology. Yellow bags carry anatomical, soiled and microbiological waste. Waste sharps go into white translucent puncture-proof containers, and glassware into blue boxes.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Biomedical waste: colour coding?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.