Ohio Administrative Code
Title 901:11 - Dairy
Chapter 901:11-2 - Ohio Manufacture Milk Rules
Section 901:11-2-04 - Somatic cell count

(A) During at least four separate months within any consecutive six month period, each dairy plant or co-operative association shall collect and submit producer raw milk samples to a laboratory for examination to determine the somatic cell count of the samples. Samples shall be representative of all raw milk shipped from bulk tanks and received in cans.

(B) The somatic cell standard for acceptable raw milk shall be the lesser of one million or two hundred fifty thousand per mL. more than the standard adopted in the PMO. Goat milk shall remain at the same level as adopted in the PMO.

(C) A screening test may be conducted on goat herd milk. When a goat herd screening sample exceeds either of the following screening test results, a confirmatory test shall be conducted using either:

(D) Samples shall be analyzed at a laboratory approved by the director and the laboratory results shall be transmitted to the department as requested by the director. Each producer's raw milk sample shall be tested for somatic cell count using one of the following methods , any other method listed in the standard methods, or by any other equivalent method approved by the director:

(E) The results of the confirmatory test on goat milk for somatic cells shall be the official results.

(F) Whenever the producer raw milk somatic cell count exceeds the standard established in paragraph (B) of this rule, the following procedures shall be applied:

(G) An additional sample shall be taken no sooner than three days and no later than twenty-one days after sending of the warning notice. If this sample also exceeds the somatic cell standard, the producer license or registration shall be suspended until satisfactory compliance is obtained. Shipment may be resumed and the producer license or registration reinstated by the director when an additional sample of the producer raw milk is tested and found satisfactory. The producer license or registration shall remain in a warning status as long as two of the last four somatic cell counts exceed the standard. The director shall suspend the producer license or registration immediately for at least one day, in accordance with section 917.22 of the Revised Code, whenever three of the last five somatic cell counts within any twelve month period exceed the standard.