What should be done with expired medical supplies?

Expired medical supplies must be disposed of properly to ensure safety and compliance with regulations. Using expired supplies can pose serious risks, as the efficacy and safety of the materials cannot be guaranteed past their expiration date. Proper disposal protocols often involve following local regulations which may dictate specific methods of disposal, such as incineration or following biohazard waste procedures, depending on the type of materials involved.

Though options like donating unopened supplies or returning them to the manufacturer may sound appealing, they generally do not comply with safety and ethical standards regarding expired items. Additionally, using expired supplies for training purposes is also considered unsafe, as it could lead to misunderstandings about the effective use of the supplies in real medical situations.

Therefore, proper disposal is the responsible action that minimizes potential hazards to patients, healthcare providers, and the environment.