The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Accreditation--An official approval granted by the department to a laboratory. The accreditation only permits analysis of milk and dairy samples in accordance with the applicable rules based on the process outlined in this subchapter. Accreditation is granted to a laboratory that is capable of correctly performing the analyses for which it is accredited. Accreditation does not imply that the department certifies the results produced by the accredited laboratory.
  (2) Antibiotic milk laboratory--A laboratory only authorized to screen for antibiotics in milk manufacturing.
  (3) Approval--An official approval granted by the department to a laboratory. The approval only permits analysis of milk samples for antibiotic testing in accordance with applicable rules based on the process outlined in this subchapter. Approval is granted to a laboratory that is capable of correctly performing analyses for which it is approved. Approval does not imply that the department certifies the results produced by the approved laboratory.
  (4) Department--The Department of State Health Services.
  (5) Evaluation--An onsite inspection performed by the department that includes a fact-finding process in which information and observations are collected for the purpose of evaluation of the laboratory's compliance with established accreditation or approval standards.
  (6) Officially designated laboratory--A commercial laboratory or a milk industry laboratory officially designated by the department for the analysis of milk, milk products, milk for manufacturing, or frozen desserts.
  (7) Official laboratory--A biological, chemical, or physical laboratory, which is under the direct supervision of the department for the analysis of milk, milk products, milk for manufacturing, or frozen desserts. Official laboratories include full service laboratories.
  (8) Split samples--An annual proficiency testing program that includes bacterial count, coliform count, somatic cell count, presence of antibiotics, presence of phosphatase, and presence of added water, contingent on the milk laboratory accreditation or approval, which is coordinated by the Milk and Dairy Unit, Department of State Health Services, 8407 Wall Street, Austin, Texas 78754, to determine if the milk laboratory is qualified in performing the analyses.

Source Note: The provisions of this §218.2 adopted to be effective December 22, 2020, 45 TexReg 9214