<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 26.13.11.02" title_num="26" subtitle_num="13" chapter_num="11" heading="Definitions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Terms Defined.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Anatomical material” means human or animal body parts, including tissues and organs.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Blood” means human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Blood-soiled article” means any article that contains blood in any form as a result of contact with blood.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3-1)">
      <text>“Contaminated item” means an item for which it is known or reasonably anticipated that blood or other potentially infectious material is present on the item.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Contaminated material” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Microbiological laboratory waste;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The feces of an individual diagnosed as having a disease that may be transmitted to another human being through the feces;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>An article soiled with the feces of an individual diagnosed as having a disease that may be transmitted to another human being through the feces; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>An article that has come into contact with a known human pathogen.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Generator” means any person whose act or process produces a special medical waste.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5-1)">
      <text>“Infectious substance” means a material known or reasonably expected to contain a pathogen.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Microbiological laboratory waste” means waste from a microbiological laboratory that contains a human pathogen and includes cultures and stocks of pathogens and associated biologicals.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6-1)">
      <text>“Other potentially infectious material” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The following human body fluids:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Amniotic fluid;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>A body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>A body fluid that cannot be readily identified;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Cerebrospinal fluid;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Pericardial fluid;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Peritoneal fluid;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>Pleural fluid;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>Saliva generated in the performance of dental procedures;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ix)">
          <text>Semen;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(x)">
          <text>Synovial fluid; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(xi)">
          <text>Vaginal secretions;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A tissue or organ from a living or dead human, not including intact skin, that has not been preserved by a chemical additive or preservative;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The following items relating to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C virus:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>HIV-containing cell, tissue, or organ cultures;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Media or other solutions containing HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Blood, organs, or other tissues, including blood, organs or other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or hepatitis B virus; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Microbiological laboratory waste.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6-2)">
      <text>“Pathogen” means a microorganism, including bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites, and fungi, or other agent, such as a proteinaceous infectious particle, also known as a prion, that can cause disease in humans or animals.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“Person” means an individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, federal agency, corporation (including a government corporation), partnership, association, state, municipality, political subdivision of a state, any interstate body, and any combination of persons using a common disposal collection device.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Sharp.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Sharp” means an object that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Is capable of cutting or penetrating skin or a packaging material, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Either is known, suspected, or reasonably anticipated to be contaminated with a human pathogen, blood, or other potentially infectious material or may become contaminated with a human pathogen through handling or during transportation;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Sharp” includes needles, syringes with an attached needle or other sharp, scalpels, surgical instruments, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, broken rigid plastic, and exposed ends of dental wires.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>“Sharp” includes an item that is capable of cutting or penetrating skin or a packaging material if the item is not in its original, intact packaging unless the item:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Is not commonly associated with blood, other potentially infectious material or infectious substances, such as, for example, broken glass from beverage containers or disposable blades used by a contractor in building maintenance; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Has not been exposed to or commingled with special medical waste; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>“Sharp” does not include an item in its original, intact packaging.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Shipping paper” means a shipping order, bill of lading, manifest, or other shipping document serving a similar purpose and containing the information required by 49 CFR §§172.202, 172.203, and 172.204, which are incorporated by reference in COMAR 26.13.12.01B(5) and 26.13.13.01G.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Solid waste” means any waste defined by COMAR 26.13.02.02.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>“Special medical waste” means a solid waste that is not excluded under Regulation .03 of this chapter and is composed of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Anatomical material;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Blood that is in a liquid or semiliquid state;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Blood-soiled articles that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Would release blood in a liquid or semiliquid state if compressed; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Are caked with dried blood and are capable of releasing the blood during handling of the items;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A contaminated item that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Would release other potentially infectious material in a liquid or semiliquid state if compressed; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Is caked with other potentially infectious material and is capable of releasing the other potentially infectious material during handling of the item;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Contaminated material;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>An infectious substance that can cause disease in humans;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Microbiological laboratory waste;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Other potentially infectious material that is in a liquid or semiliquid state;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Pathological and microbiological waste that contains blood or other potentially infectious material; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>Sharps.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>“Sterilize” means to use a physical or chemical procedure to destroy all microbial life including highly resistant bacterial endospores.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>