California Code of Regulations
Title 22 - Social Security
Division 5 - Licensing and Certification of Health Facilities, Home Health Agencies, Clinics, and Referral Agencies
Chapter 4 - Intermediate Care Facilities
Article 3 - Services
Section 73365 - Pharmaceutical Service-Labeling and Storage of Drugs

(a) Containers which are cracked, soiled or without secure closures shall not be used. Drug labels shall be legible.

(b) All drugs obtained by prescription shall be labeled in compliance with state and federal laws governing prescription dispensing. No person other than the pharmacist shall alter any prescription label.

(c) Nonlegend drugs shall be labeled in conformance with state and federal food and drug laws.

(d) Test reagents, germicides, disinfectants and other household substances shall be stored separately from drugs.

(e) External use drugs in liquid, tablet, capsule or powder form shall be stored separately from drugs for internal use.

(f) Drugs shall be stored at appropriate temperatures. Drugs required to be stored at room temperature shall be stored at a temperature between 15°C (59°F) and 30°C (86°F). Drugs requiring refrigeration shall be stored in a refrigerator between 2°C (36°F) and 8°C (46°F). When drugs are stored in the same refrigerator with food, the drugs shall be kept in a closed properly labeled container, clearly labeled "drugs."

(g) Drugs shall be stored in an orderly manner in cabinets, drawers or carts of sufficient size to prevent crowding.

(h) Dose preparation and administration areas shall be well lighted. If medication carts are used, a light shall be available on the cart.

(i) Drugs shall be accessible only to licensed nursing personnel.

(j) Bedside storage of medications shall be limited to sublingual or inhalation forms of emergency drugs.

(k) All bedside storage of medications shall be specifically ordered by the physician.

(l) Drugs shall not be kept in stock after the expiration date on the label and no contaminated or deteriorated drugs shall be available for use.

(m) The drugs of each patient shall be kept and stored in their originally received containers. No drug shall be transferred between containers.

(n) Discontinued drug containers shall be marked to indicate that the drug has been discontinued. Discontinued drugs shall be disposed of within 90 days of the date the drug order was discontinued, unless the drug is reordered within that time.