Propofol (CAS 2078-54-8): storage and disposal

Because it is a fat-based emulsion, storage is about keeping the emulsion intact. Vials stay in their cartons in a theatre store or pharmacy cupboard, away from direct heat and out of strong light. Freezing breaks an emulsion, so a vial that has been left near a cold wall, an open window or the back of a fridge should be treated as suspect. Keep it away from the volatile products in the same cupboard. Opened single-use propofol vials should not be retained for later use. Any remaining contents should be managed as pharmaceutical waste in accordance with the product information. A veterinary practice that carries it in a bag or vehicle should check that stock after any cold night or hot day.

A uniform, opaque, milky white liquid is normal. When the emulsion starts to fail, you see oily droplets, a layer of oil at the top, a clear band at the bottom, streaks or separation that does not mix back when the vial is turned. Any such vial is no longer sound. Check also for cracked glass, a perished stopper, a leaking seal and crusted residue on the neck. It gives few other visible signs, so label, date and container condition do the rest. Anything undated, unlabelled or past its date goes on the collection list.

We arrange this by specialist collection. We do not publish a drain or general waste route for any chemical. It is normally packed in a general laboratory pack with compatible chemicals.

Grouping starts with the vial itself: glass with a rubber stopper and a milky liquid, so it is packed upright in a rigid container so that it cannot break and leak, with other compatible liquid medicines. A hospital pharmacy or clinic would normally use 18 01 09 for propofol medicine waste, and a veterinary practice 18 02 08. Neat laboratory propofol is classified separately. List the volume left in each vial. Expired vials do not go into a sharps bin, a sink, clinical waste or the general bin, and the contents are not to be emptied first. Part-used vials follow your local waste procedure, which may use a dedicated container for medicine-contaminated items. A registered carrier collects them.

Usually held as: emulsion for injection.

Tell us the container size and how many you hold. An estimate is enough to start with, and some items cannot be priced until someone has looked at them.