Acknowledgments
The authors thank the members of the diagnostic laboratories of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee for technical and material support.
-
Research funding: None declared.
-
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
-
Competing interests: Joesph R. Wiencek (JRW) served as a consultant with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He currently serves on the document development committee for the first edition of the CLSI PRE06 that will cover external specimen transport evaluations. JRW is also the chair of the document. He holds two provisional patents on SARS-COV-2 antibody testing and serves leadership roles with the following groups: AACC Serology Task Force COVID-19, IFCC Task Force on Ethics, SYCL Core Committee. The rest of the authors do not have anything to disclose. Financial disclosure: Joesph R Wiencek (JRW) received an honoraria from Cardinal Health, BioRad, AACC. He’s received financial support to travel to AACC, IFCC and ASCP meetings. The other authors do not have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.
-
Informed consent: Not applicable.
-
Ethical approval: Not applicable.
References
1. EFLM Taskforce-GreenSustainable Laboratories. EFLM guidelines for green and sustainable laboratories; 2022. Available from https://www.eflm.eu/upload/docs/EFLM-GREEN-LAB-BOOKLET.pdf [Accessed 08 June 2023].Search in Google Scholar
2. Barcoded QC. Technopath clinical diagnostics; 2023. Available from https://www.technopathclinicaldiagnostics.com/products/quality-control-materials/barcoded-qc/ [Accessed 08 June 2023].Search in Google Scholar
3. Bio-Rad. InteliQ load & go quality controls - QCNet; 2023. Available from: https://www.qcnet.com/quality-controls/inteliq [Accessed 08 Jun 2023].Search in Google Scholar
4. Menacho-Román, M, Ouriach, S, Arribas, I. Consolidation of quality control material improves patient safety and supports sustainability. J Lab Med 2022;46:377–81. https://doi.org/10.1515/labmed-2022-0085.Search in Google Scholar
5. Westgard. 2024 CLIA proposed acceptance limits for proficiency testing; 2023. Available from: https://www.westgard.com/2024-clia-requirements.html [Accessed 08 Jun 2023].Search in Google Scholar
6. Misrai, V, Rijo, E, Cottenceau, J, Zorn, KC, Enikeev, DV, Elterman, DS, et al.. A standardized method for estimating the carbon footprint of disposable minimally invasive surgical devices. Ann Surg Open 2001;2:3–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/as9.0000000000000094.Search in Google Scholar
7. European Environment Agency. Emission factor database; 2023. Available from: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/emep-eea-guidebook-2019/emission-factors-database [Accessed 08 Jun 2023].Search in Google Scholar
8. European Parliament. Plastic waste and recycling in the EU: facts and figures; 2023. Available from: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20181212STO21610/plastic-waste-and-recycling-in-the-eu-facts-and-figures [Accessed 08 Jun 2023].Search in Google Scholar
9. Ye, J, Song, Y, Liu, Y, Zhong, Y. Assessment of medical waste generation, associated environmental impact, and management issues after the outbreak of COVID-19: a case study of the Hubei Province in China. PLoS One 2022;17:1–3. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259207.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
10. Singh, N, Ogunseitan, OA, Tang, Y. Medical waste: current challenges and future opportunities for sustainable management. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 2022;52:2000–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2021.1885325.Search in Google Scholar
© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
