S.C. Code Regs. § § 120-10

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 120-10 - Veterinary Facilities. General Requirements; Laboratory Services; Surgical; Pharmacological; Emergency Treatment

A. General Requirements.

(1) All areas of the premises shall be maintained in a clean, offensive-odor free and orderly condition at all times.

(2) All required equipment must be in satisfactory working order.

(3) The minimum standards for all facilities shall include:

(a) Adequate heating and cooling for the comfort of the animals;

(b) Sufficient ventilation in all areas;

(c) Proper lighting in all rooms;

(d) Hot and cold running water from an approved source;

(e) Adequate toilets and lavatories for personnel and clients;

(f) Sanitary storage which is adequate for the size of the facility;

(g) Interior and exterior receptacles for waste disposal which shall comply with state and local regulations;

(h) A procedure for the prompt, sanitary and aesthetic disposal of dead animals which complies with state and local regulations;

(4) Examination Areas. The facility examination area shall have:

(a) Waste receptacles or chutes;

(b) A table with impervious top surface; and

(c) Proper lighting.

B. Laboratory Services.

(1) A facility where examination, diagnosis and treatment of or surgery on animal patients is provided by a veterinarian shall have an in-house laboratory or the services of a consultant laboratory for blood chemistries, cultures and antibiotic sensitivity examinations, complete blood counts, histopathological examinations, occult heartworm determination, and complete necropsies.

(2) Laboratory facilities must have a minimum capability to conduct:

(a) standard urinalysis;

(b) micro-hematocrit determination;

(c) fecal flotation tests for ova of internal parasites;

(d) dermal scrapings for external parasite diagnosis;

(e) examination for microfilaria and occult heartworm detection; and

(f) feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus testing.

(3) In-house laboratory facility standards:

(a) Clean and orderly;

(b) Ample storage;

(c) Ample refrigeration.

C. Surgical Facilities.

(1) Surgery shall be performed in a room that can be easily sanitized and is free of unnecessary traffic flow during surgical procedures.

(2) Sterilization must include a steam pressure sterilizer, gas sterilizer, autoclave equipment or cold sterilization. Cold sterilization must be used in conjunction with a steam pressure sterilizer, gas sterilizer or autoclave equipment.

(3) Surgical instruments and equipment shall be consistent with the surgical service being provided.

(4) Storage in the surgery area shall be limited to surgical items.

(5) Emergency drugs must be available to the surgery area.

(6) Sterilized instruments, gowns, towels, drapes, gloves, caps and masks shall be available for surgery.

(7) Positive pressure and oxygen shall be available in medical facility environments.

D. Pharmacological Facilities.

(1) A veterinarian shall not prescribe, dispense or administer any drug or biological agent that bears the legend "Caution: Federal Law restricts this drug to the use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian," or any other term which specifies the medication as a legend drug, without the establishment of a veterinarian/client/patient relationship.

(2) The supervising veterinarian shall:

(a) maintain all drugs and biological agents in compliance with state and federal laws;

(b) ensure that any legend drugs and biological agents prescribed for use in the veterinary facility are properly administered;

(c) maintain accurate records to include the strength, dosage and quantity of all medications used or prescribed;

(d) instruct clients on the administration of drugs when applicable.

(3) Repackaged Legend Drugs.

(a) Repackaged legend drugs shall be dispensed in approved safety closure containers, where applicable.

(b) Repackaged legend drugs dispensed shall be labeled with the following:

(i) name, address and telephone number of the facility;

(ii) client's last name;

(iii) patient's name;

(iv) date dispensed;

(v) directions for use;

(vi) name of the drug and its strength (if more than one dosage form exists) and the amount of the drug dispensed; and

(vii) name of the prescribing veterinarian.

(4) The veterinarian shall maintain records of all medications prescribed and dispensed for any animal in that animal's file. The pharmaceutical record information may be transferred, in whole or in part, from one veterinarian to another, in writing or by telephone, when necessary to continue treatment or disease prevention by medication started by the original attending veterinarian.

(5) Federal Drug Enforcement Administration Registration. A veterinarian who has a Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number and uses, dispenses, administers or prescribes controlled substances shall comply with the federal and state laws pertaining to the dispensing, prescribing, storage and usage of controlled substances. All controlled substances dispensed or prescribed shall be recorded in a controlled substance register. Each veterinarian who maintains a DEA registration shall maintain a controlled substance register in compliance with DEA requirements.

E. Emergency Treatment Facilities.

(1) Emergency treatment may be provided by:

(a) a veterinarian on the premises at all times to receive and manage emergency cases; or

(b) a veterinarian who is on-call and available to receive and manage emergency cases as requested.

(2) Public Notice. The public shall be informed of the available emergency services by a "Notice to the Public" posting. The notice shall be prominently located and easily accessible to clients. The posting shall include contact information for the on-call veterinarian or other veterinary facilities offering additional emergency services.

S.C. Code Regs. § 120-10

Added by State Register Volume 33, Issue No. 3, eff March 27, 2009.