Overview
Instrumentation Waste Bottles
Several types of analytical instruments have waste effluent collection containers. Examples include High Performance Liquid Chromotography (HPLC) and Atomic Absorption instruments. The pictures on this page are from a HPLC instrument, but the concepts are the same regardless of the type of instrument.
Exhibit A shows a HPLC waste collection container that is not closed. This configuration “may” be acceptable to an inspector if the instrument is operating and therefore the waste container is being actively filled by the operation of the instrument. When the instrument is not being used, then the tubes would need to be removed and the container securely closed.
Exhibit B is an example of a lid that most inspectors would find unacceptable because of the hole drilled to allow for passage of the effluent tubes is too big, leaving a gap. Some inspectors would accept the lid in Exhibit B if it was augmented with parafilm or tape, but other inspectors would not accept parafilm or tape augmentation.
For our purposes, this checklist item should be cited if there is not a tight-fit between the effluent tube and the hole drilled to allow passage or a manufactured lid that shown is not used and the instrument is not actively in use. If the instrument is actively in use, advise the laboratory staff of the requirement and ask if their practice conforms. If it does not, then cite this checklist item.
It’s a little more dicey when it comes to some sort of lid with the effluent tubes threaded through the cap. There has been a tremendous amount of variability between agency inspectors as to what is acceptable as a “closed” container. In all cases, the specialized lid (Exhibit C) would meet the closure requirement for any inspector. Anything less robust could result in an open container violation, based on the individual inspector.