Assessment of Medical Laboratory Waste Management in Bam City in 2025

Effective adherence to medical waste management protocols in clinical diagnostic laboratories is essential for safeguarding public health and preventing pathogen transmission and environmental pollution. This descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted in 2025, evaluated waste management practices across all nine active clinical laboratories in Bam City, Iran, using a census method.

Data were collected through direct on-site observation, structured interviews with laboratory technical supervisors, and a standardized checklist approved by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Daily and monthly waste quantities by category were also obtained from laboratory managers, with analysis performed using Microsoft Excel.

Findings revealed an average waste generation of 0.19 kg per patient per day, with the nine laboratories collectively producing 106.48 kg/day and 2,875 kg/month. Compliance with national regulations varied significantly across domains: the highest adherence was recorded in waste collection and segregation (82.54%), whereas the lowest rates were observed in decontamination procedures (66.67%) and training/supervision (59.26%). The overall mean compliance rate across all laboratories was 71.56%, indicating moderate performance with considerable room for improvement.

To enhance waste management standards, policymakers should implement continuous professional training programs, provide laboratories with standardized decontamination equipment, establish proper temporary storage infrastructure, and enforce regular supervisory audits by environmental health experts. Adopting a systemic, integrated approach throughout the entire waste management cycle from generation to final disposal is critical to ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.