Final answer:
Joanna must place the tuberculosis-contaminated waste in an autoclave to sterilize it before disposal because it is a biohazard that requires careful handling to prevent the spread of infection. So the correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Joanna, a nurse, needs to discard a diagnostic laboratory sample from a patient with tuberculosis (TB), a highly infectious disease, she must follow specific biohazard disposal procedures. One of these steps involves ensuring the waste is sterilized before disposal. The correct answer to the question is OA: place the waste in an autoclave, which is a device used to sterilize items through high pressure and steam, effectively eliminating bacteria and viruses, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This process is vital for preventing the spread of TB and other biohazards. Contaminated waste must never be placed in recycling bins, general waste receptacles, or sharps containers, as these do not provide the necessary sterilization.