NAC449.526. Water treatment system: Microbiological testing of product water.

     1. Each facility shall, at least once each month or immediately after any repair or change is made to the water product treatment system of the facility, conduct a microbiological test of the product water. The results of any test conducted pursuant to the provisions of this section must indicate that the quality of the product water satisfies the requirements relating to hemodialysis systems set forth in the American National Standard, Water Treatment Equipment for Hemodialysis Applications, adopted by reference pursuant to the provisions of NAC 449.520.

     2. Sample sites selected by the facility to conduct the test must include the beginning of the distribution piping, the product water in the reuse room of the facility and the end of the distribution piping. If the results of the test do not satisfy the requirements specified in subsection 1, the facility shall immediately disinfect and reculture the water treatment system. If, after the water treatment system is disinfected and recultured, the results of the test do not satisfy those requirements, the facility shall determine the source of the contamination by immediately reculturing:

     (a) The sample sites;

     (b) Each patient station of the facility;

     (c) Each tank of the water treatment system that is used to store water;

     (d) All water that is used to mix dialysate; and

     (e) The product water obtained from the final component of the water treatment system.

     3. A calibrated loop must not be used to conduct a test pursuant to the provisions of this section. As used in this subsection, “calibrated loop” means a mechanism that is used to:

     (a) Draw a sample of water from the water treatment system of a facility; and

     (b) Conduct a test of that water for the presence of chemicals, bacteria or other impurities.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R130-99, eff. 8-1-2001; A by R075-04, 8-5-2004)