Delaware Administrative Code
Title 24 - Regulated Professions and Occupations
Department of State
Division of Professional Regulation
3300 - Board of Veterinary Medicine
Section 3300-5.0 - Veterinary Premises & Equipment

5.1 The animal facility shall be kept clean. A regular schedule of sanitary maintenance is necessary, including the elimination of wastes.

5.2 Animal rooms, corridors, storage areas, and other parts of the animal facility shall be washed, scrubbed, vacuumed, mopped, or swept as often as necessary, using appropriate detergents and disinfectants to keep them free of dirt, debris, and harmful contamination.

5.3 Animal cages, racks, and accessory equipment, such as feeders and water utensils, shall be washed and sanitized as often as necessary to keep them physically clean and free from contamination. In addition, cages should always be sanitized before new animals are placed in them. Sanitizing may be accomplished either by washing all soiled surfaces with a cleaning agent having an effective bactericidal action or with live steam or the equivalent thereof.

5.4 Cages or pens from which animal waste is removed by hosing or flushing shall be cleaned and suitably disinfected one or more times daily. Animals should be removed from cages during servicing in order to keep the animals dry.

5.5 If litter or bedding such as paper is used in animal cages or pens, it shall be changed as often as necessary to keep the animals clean.

5.6 Waste disposal must be carried out in accordance with good public health practice and federal and state regulations. Waste materials should be removed regularly and frequently so that storage of waste does not create a nuisance.

5.7 Biomedical waste such as culture plates, tubes, contaminated sponges, swabs, biologicals, needles, syringes, and blades, must be disposed of according to federal and state guidelines. Before disposing of blood soiled articles, they shall be placed in a leak-proof disposable container such as a plastic sack or a plastic-lined bag.

5.8 Proper refrigeration and sterilization equipment should be available.

5.9 Adequate safety precautions must be used in disposing animal carcasses and tissue specimens. An animal carcass shall be disposed of promptly according to federal and state law and regulations. If prompt disposal of an animal carcass is not possible, it shall be contained in a freezer or stored in a sanitary, non-offensive manner until such time as it can be disposed. Livestock shall be disposed of by any acceptable agricultural method.

5.10 The elimination or effective control of vermin shall be mandatory.