R 431.1280 Specimen collection procedure.

Rule 1280. (1) The official winning horse and any other horse ordered by the stewards or official veterinarian must be taken to the detention area to have sample specimens taken at the direction of the official veterinarian. A person other than the owner, trainer, driver, or horse attendant shall not be admitted into the detention area. No more than 2 licensees per horse are allowed in the detention barn at once. (2) Stable equipment, other than that necessary for washing and cooling out a horse, is prohibited in the detention area. A licensed veterinarian may attend a horse in the detention area only in the presence of the official veterinarian. (3) During the taking of specimens from a horse, the owner, trainer, or horse attendant shall be present and witness the taking of the specimen and so signify in writing. In the case of a claimed horse, the original owner, trainer, or horse attendant shall be present. (4) Urine sample collection procedure must meet all of the following requirements: (a) All sample containers shall arrive from the testing laboratory with a tamper proof seal. The laboratory seal shall not be broken except in the presence of the person witnessing the specimen collection. (b) A urine specimen taken from a horse shall be placed in a container and sealed with an identification label affixed. The sample must be placed in the refrigerator of the restricted access detention barn laboratory. One portion of the sample form bearing a printed identification number shall remain with the sealed container, and the other portion of the sample form bearing the same printed identification number shall be detached in the presence of the witness. The official veterinarian or his or her assistant shall, on the sample form, identify the horse from which the specimen was taken, and shall note the race and day and any other information required. The sample form shall be verified by the person witnessing the specimen collection. The sample form must be delivered to the official veterinarian’s office and placed in a secure area. Every precaution shall be taken to ensure that a member of the laboratory staff does not know the identity of the horse from which a specimen was taken before the completion of all testing and reporting thereon. (c) A horse's identity shall be confirmed by tattoo number or unique microchip. A horse which cannot be properly identified shall be reported immediately to the stewards. (d) If, after a horse remains a reasonable time in the detention area, a specimen cannot be taken from the horse, the official veterinarian may permit the horse to be returned to its barn and usual surroundings for the taking of a specimen under the supervision of the official veterinarian or his or her assistant. A diuretic to facilitate urination shall not be administered, but an alternate specimen may be taken. (5) Blood sample collection procedure must meet all of the following requirements: (a) The official veterinarian shall confirm the blood collection tubes sent from the testing laboratory arrive in a sealed box and the blood collection tubes inside are sealed in a manner to prevent contamination. The expiration date on the blood collection tubes must be checked to confirm the tubes are valid until the end of the race meeting. If the blood collection tubes are not packaged in a manner to prevent contamination or the expiration date is before the end of the race meeting, all boxes of blood collection tubes affected shall be returned to the testing laboratory. (b) The official veterinarian shall select appropriate blood collection tubes to be used along with a single use needle guard and a sterile single use needle with secure safety seal. The appropriate blood collection tubes must be carried in hand to the horse’s stall. If needed, the assistant to the official veterinarian may assist. Sample tag information must be verified with the owner, trainer, or horse attendant by having that individual confirm that the horse’s name and identification number on the sample tag is the same as the horse to be sampled. (c) If in the process of preparing to draw blood or while drawing blood, a tube or needle (even if still encased in the protective cover) falls to the ground, it must be replaced with a new tube or needle. (d) When the blood draw is complete, all tubes shall be labeled with bar code stickers from the sample tag in the presence of the owner, trainer, or horse attendant. (e) Once labeled, the tubes must be placed in the restricted access detention barn laboratory. (f) The trainer shall have a horse attendant present in the detention barn that is capable of restraining the horse for blood collection. (g) Sample collection may be terminated at the discretion of the official veterinarian if continued attempts at the blood draw pose a risk to the horse, official veterinarian, or his or her assistant.