Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: biomedical waste glass: 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 · Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: biomedical waste glass

Sample item

A ward generates broken glass ampoules and discarded glass medicine vials. According to the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules 2016 in India, in which container should they be placed?

ABlue cardboard box with a blue markingBYellow plastic bagCRed plastic bagDWhite translucent puncture-proof container

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Blue cardboard box with a blue marking

Under the 2016 Indian rules, broken or discarded glass, including medicine vials and ampoules, goes into a blue cardboard box. Needles and other sharps go into a white translucent puncture-proof container, and plastic items such as tubing go into red bags.

Option by option

A. Blue cardboard box with a blue marking (correct)
Correct. Glassware and vials belong in the blue cardboard box.
B. Yellow plastic bag
The yellow bag is for anatomical, soiled and expired waste, not glass.
C. Red plastic bag
The red bag is for contaminated recyclable plastics such as tubing and catheters.
D. White translucent puncture-proof container
The white translucent container is for needles, syringes with fixed needles and other metal sharps.

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.

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is A, Blue cardboard box with a blue marking. Under the 2016 Indian rules, broken or discarded glass, including medicine vials and ampoules, goes into a blue cardboard box.

Why is "Yellow plastic bag" not the answer?

The yellow bag is for anatomical, soiled and expired waste, not glass.

Why is "Red plastic bag" not the answer?

The red bag is for contaminated recyclable plastics such as tubing and catheters.

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

The white translucent container is for needles, syringes with fixed needles and other metal sharps.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: biomedical waste glass in Microbiology. Needles and other sharps go into a white translucent puncture-proof container, and plastic items such as tubing go into red bags.

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 Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: biomedical waste glass?

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.