Abstract: Apparatus for safe handling of biologically infectious waste materials comprises providing paper or plastic bags to receive infectious waste material, an open collection cart for receiving said bags, an enclosed transport cart for receiving, enclosing, and transporting the collection cart, placing the collection cart inside the transport cart, depositing the plastic bags into the collection cart while disposed within the transport cart, transferring the collection cart and bags of infectious waste into a sterilizing chamber, sterilizing the infectious waste material by steam heat, exposing fluids produced during the sterilization process to steam heat for a time sufficient to sterilize the same by allowing the fluids to slowly drain from said bags to a fluid receiver at the bottom of the collection cart and then to a second fluid receiver at the bottom of the sterilizing chamber and into a conventional drainage system, transferring the collection cart to a dumping and compacting apparatus, dumping and compact

Abstract: A system is disclosed for monitoring sterilization of biologically contaminated material from hospitals and the like. An autoclave sterilization unit heats biologically contaminated materials with steam for a time sufficient to kill the contaminants therein. A biological indicator probe provides for inserting a test vial into the central portion of the materials being treated. After sterilization, the probe is removed and the test vial is cultured to determine whether the spores of the Bacillus stearothermophilus, or the like (e.g. Bacillus sp.) present are still viable. If the test vial has been completely inactivated, it is an indication that decontamination of the other materials in the autoclave is complete. The test probe comprises a rod of heat resistant material having an end chamber closable by a rotatable sleeve. In a position aligning window openings in the chamber and in the sleeve, the test vial may be inserted. Rotation of the sleeve locks the test vial in place.