What is defined as contaminated laundry?

Contaminated laundry refers specifically to laundry that has been soiled and may contain infectious materials or sharps. This definition is crucial in settings where hygiene and safety are paramount, such as hospitals or laboratories. The presence of infectious materials indicates that the laundry poses a risk of spreading germs or diseases if not handled properly.

Option C is accurate because it highlights the potential hazards associated with soiled laundry, which require special handling, washing, and disposal practices to protect the health of individuals and prevent cross-contamination. Understanding this distinction is important for health care workers and others who deal with potentially hazardous materials in their environments.

Other options describe laundry in ways that do not fit the definition of contaminated laundry; for instance, clean laundry that has never been used, or laundry that is free from hazardous materials, would not be considered contaminated at all. Furthermore, laundry that has been washed multiple times does not indicate any risk of contamination either, as cleanliness does not equate to contamination risk.