PETALING JAYA: As more people turn to self-testing with the rise in Omicron cases, self-test Covid-19 kits can turn into a medical and environmental risk if these are not properly disposed of after use, say experts. Virologist Dr Chee Hui Yee of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences said there was a risk of exposure to the virus should one come across a used kit that had not been properly binned.

       Waste collectors, she added, would be at risk of exposure to saliva traces if these had not been properly mixed with the lysis solution provided in the kit.

       The lysis solution releases the viruses from the host cell, a process that kills the cell by bursting its membrane and cell wall if it is present.

       “Once the solution provided in the kit is added to the swab or saliva, the virus will be killed. It is then safe to dispose the used test kit in the plastic bag provided with the kit. Seal the plastic bag and then put this into another plastic bag, tighten it properly and dispose in the trash,” she said.

       Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society president Amrahi Buang said used self kits should be treated as clinical waste.

       “Once it touches bodily fluids, it becomes clinical waste,” he said, adding that the risk of the virus spreading was there, especially if the kit involved a specimen from a Covid-19 positive patient.

       Calling improper disposal of test kits a medical risk, Amrahi said it was also an issue of hygiene.

       “There are currently more than 100 test kit brands available in the market, all of which must comply with the Health Ministry’s Medical Device Authority’s requirements, including the disposal instructions,” he said.

       On Tuesday, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry said there were some 18 million units of Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test Kits in the market.

       Waste company SWM Environment Sdn Bhd corporate affairs general manager Mohd Norlisam Mohd Nordin said used Covid-19 self-test kits were disposed at a designated landfill.

       SWM Environment is the concessionaire for waste management and public cleansing services in Negri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor.

       Mohd Norlisam said waste collectors were not allowed to touch the waste and would have to instead push the wheelie bin to the lifter at the back of the compactor to transport the waste as per the collection guidelines laid out by the government.

       “The workers are also advised to thoroughly clean their hands with water and sanitiser,” he said.

       Although the test kits were made of plastic, he said these were not recyclable.

       Environment and waste management specialist Dr Theng Lee Chong said it was high time that the government came out with a system to manage medical waste from households, such as self test kits and face masks, as some of these were used by Covid-19 positive cases.

       “I think it is time that the government comes up with a solution to provide proper guidance to people about household medical waste,” he said.

       He said medical waste from healthcare facilities was managed and treated differently from domestic waste, adding that this was collected directly by licensed waste collectors and treated at designated facilities.

       “Most of it (the waste) is incinerated and some of these facilities use different technologies to treat the infectious items,” he said.

       “All these plastics, not only the test kits but the plastic bag you put it in, will go to the landfill and be there forever,” he added.