Animal Hospital Infection Control: What an Inspection Actually Looks At
An accreditation inspection is not a checklist handed over in advance. The College's guidance for teams preparing for a visit states that you do not need to pull medical records beforehand, because the inspector decides on the day which cases and records they will review. That changes what preparation means: less time assembling a binder, more time proving the policy on the wall is what happens on the floor.
What does the inspector decide on the day of the visit?
Case selection, and whose records get sampled. Inspectors will likely request medical records from each veterinarian on staff, and which cases to follow is decided during the visit. Accreditation reaches every veterinary facility in Ontario — more than 1,700 of them — including mobile practices, which have their own facility structure requirements for the base unit that stores equipment, supplies and records.
Which infection control documents does a facility have to keep?
The biosecurity and biomedical waste standard is more specific than many teams expect. A practice has to have a written policy for infectious and zoonotic cases and for overall infection control, setting out how contagious animals are identified and handled on arrival, how infectious cases are isolated where no separate isolation space exists, team member training, and measures to regularly audit and record adherence to the policy — daily, weekly or monthly checklists are the named example. That last clause is the one an inspection can sample.
How is hand hygiene actually assessed?
Two ways: what is provided, and what is done. The standard requires procedures to minimise cross-infection, routine practices for frequent hand washing, cleaning materials and disinfectant in every examination and treatment room and in each mobile, and risk-based disinfection between patients — floors, equipment and hand-touch areas such as doors and keyboards. Disinfectants have to carry bactericidal, fungicidal and viricidal claims and be used per the manufacturer's directions. Where a practice posts a reminder but keeps no supply at the point of care, both halves fail.
What do team members have to explain in person?
Several requirements are answered by conversation rather than paperwork. Team members may be asked to explain how the practice stays clean and well maintained, how patients are prepared for surgery, or how a sterilization protocol is met. In a practice that runs farm calls the standard names the gear for that: footwear that can be easily disinfected or disposable footwear, and washable or disposable coveralls, with soiled clothing separated and cleaned immediately after use.
What does the research say about compliance in practice?
Observed compliance runs below self-reported confidence. Video observation in 47 Ontario companion animal clinics recorded needle recapping in 84% of appointments sampled where a needle was used. A parallel study across 38 clinics measured overall hand hygiene compliance at 14%, falling to 3% before patient contact. A survey of 356 clinic personnel found at least 82% rated hand hygiene important, yet only about a third recalled any discussion of it at work.
| What the inspection covers | What is examined | What answers it on the day |
|---|---|---|
| Infection control policy | Written policy for infectious and zoonotic cases, isolation, training | The policy plus audit or checklist records |
| Hand hygiene | Supplies at the point of care, and what staff are seen to do | Disinfectant and hand rub in every room and mobile |
| Cleaning and disinfection | Risk-based disinfection between patients, including hand-touch surfaces | A product with bactericidal, fungicidal and viricidal claims, used per the label |
| Sterilization and records | Sampled medical records; packs and loads | Date of sterilization and initials on every sterilized item |
| Waste and sharps | Containment, labelling and handover of biomedical waste | Rigid sharps containers and correctly labelled bags |
The isolation gowns and 6-mil nitrile gloves are the supply half of that test, and biohazard bags with rigid sharps containers cover the waste half. The veterinary practice supply hub groups them by zone.
Ordering for a clinic, lab or care home? Wholesale and multi-site ordering covers case pricing and account setup, and the B2B wholesale collection lists the lines stocked for institutional buyers.
References
- College of Veterinarians of Ontario — Prepare for inspection (checked 21 September 2026)
- College of Veterinarians of Ontario — Accreditation Standards for Veterinary Facilities in Ontario (checked 21 September 2026)
- BMC Veterinary Research — Video observation of sharps handling and infection control practices in companion animal appointments (checked 21 September 2026)
- BMC Veterinary Research — Video observation of hand hygiene practices in companion animal appointments (checked 21 September 2026)
- The Canadian Veterinary Journal — Self-reported hand hygiene perceptions and barriers among Ontario companion animal clinic personnel (checked 21 September 2026)
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Related Reading
- Case Review: Rebuilding Autoclave Load Records Before a College Practice Visit
- Veterinary Clinic PPE Checklist: Gloves, Gowns and Wipes
- Case Review: A Veterinary Clinic's Biohazard Waste Setup in Ontario
- sterilization log sheet template
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pull medical records before an accreditation inspection?
No. The College's guidance for a visit states that you do not need to pull medical records beforehand: the inspector decides on the day which cases and records to review.
What infection control documentation does a veterinary practice need?
A written policy for infectious and zoonotic cases and for overall infection control, with measures to regularly audit and record adherence — daily, weekly or monthly checklists are the example — and team member training.
Are mobile veterinary practices inspected too?
Yes. Every veterinary facility in Ontario has to meet the College's accreditation standards, including mobile practices, which have their own requirements for the base unit that stores equipment, supplies and records.
Is a poster campaign enough to improve hand hygiene compliance?
No. Video observation across 38 Ontario clinics measured overall hand hygiene compliance at 14%, and 3% before patient contact, while a survey of 356 clinic personnel found the most common reason for skipping it was forgetting.
Last updated: September 2026. CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
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