NAC639.525. Minimum requirements for work area and equipment.

     1. The prescription department in each licensed pharmacy must contain the following minimum work area and equipment for the compounding and dispensing of drugs:

     (a) A prescription counter on which to work, with a free working surface of not less than 3 feet in width and 2 feet in depth for each person who is compounding or dispensing drugs within the prescription department, including, without limitation, each registered pharmacist and pharmaceutical technician who is compounding or dispensing drugs within the prescription department. This working surface must be reserved for and restricted solely to the compounding and dispensing of drugs.

     (b) A free floor space behind the prescription counter that is not less than 8 feet in length and 4 feet in width.

     (c) A refrigerator that is equipped with:

          (1) A thermometer to ensure proper control of temperature; and

          (2) A programmable device for monitoring temperature which includes an alarm that records when the temperature falls outside the range required by subsection 1 of NAC 639.527.

     (d) A sink that is suitable for cleaning the required pharmaceutical equipment and is supplied with hot and cold running water, soap and detergent, and a clean and sanitary disposal container for wastes.

     (e) If the pharmacy compounds prescriptions that require the measurement of weight, scales and balances for medium and light weighing, at least one of which must be sensitive to 1/2 grain, with weights, including, without limitation, apothecary and avoirdupois, from 1/2 grain to 4 ounces and from 0.02 gm to 100 gm.

     (f) Capsule and tablet counters and other devices and equipment necessary to compound and dispense drugs.

     (g) A facsimile machine that:

          (1) Uses paper of such quality; and

          (2) Prints in such a manner,

Ê that documents printed by the machine are usable and readable for at least 2 years. As used in this paragraph, “facsimile machine” includes, without limitation, a computer that has a facsimile modem through which documents can be sent and received.

     2. In addition to the requirements of subsection 1, the prescription department in a licensed pharmacy may contain a freezer that is used to store medicine. If the prescription department in a licensed pharmacy contains such a freezer, the freezer must be equipped with a programmable device for monitoring temperature which includes an alarm that records when the temperature falls outside the range required by subsection 2 of NAC 639.527.

     [Bd. of Pharmacy, § 639.220, eff. 6-26-80]—(NAC A 3-27-90; 8-27-96; 9-6-96; R117-98, 9-9-98; R013-99 & R112-99, 11-3-99; R128-10, 12-16-2010)