Frequently Asked Questions

What about prions? Is there a transmission risk using reusable sharps containers?

No. Although prions are pieces of protein which are extremely hardy and cannot be killed by normal autoclaving, the CDC advises that prion transmission does not occur from environmental surfaces and the unlikely presence of prions in a sharps collector is of no risk to patients, staff or factory workers. Validation procedures show the Washsmart process removes blood and body fluids, but the presence of prions has not been tested. However, reusable Sharpsmart sharps containers have been used since 1986 in healthcare facilities worldwide and no transmission incident of any pathogen has been reported.