Independent register of U.S. FDA drug recalls · updated Oct 10, 2026
RxRecalls Get alerts

Sterility & contamination

A product that must be sterile could not be assured sterile, or was contaminated. A top reason for injectables, eye drops and IV products - loss of sterility assurance can lead to serious infections.

6,317 FDA drug recalls with this cause, newest first.

This is the single biggest cause in the register by a wide margin. It covers products that had to be sterile - injectables, eye drops, certain ointments - but could not be verified sterile, or were found contaminated during testing. Most of these recalls come from compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities after an FDA inspection finds gaps in how sterile products were made. Sterility failures are treated seriously because the products involved have the least room for error, going straight into the bloodstream or the eye.

Class II · Moderate risk

I-C Drops

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: The product is being recalled because the product label does not state sterile in accordance with 21 CFR Part 200.50(a)(1), Ophthalmic Preparations and Dispensers, and it is not in compliance with 21 CFR Part 349, Ophthalmic Drug Products for Over-The-Counter Use.

Terminated Sterility / contamination James G. Cole, Inc. D-129-2013
Class II · Moderate risk

CMS-8934 Custom Phlebectomy Tray

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; the firm's medical trays contain Hospira's 0.9% Sodium Chloride bags which were subject to recall due to leaking bags.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Custom Medical Specialties, Inc. D-1650-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Custom Access Tray

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; the firm's medical trays contain Hospira's 0.9% Sodium Chloride bags which were subject to recall due to leaking bags

Terminated Sterility / contamination Custom Medical Specialties, Inc. D-1649-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Indocyanine Green - Kit 15mg Injectable 1 Kit

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1546-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hypertonic Solution in Preserved Water 10% Injectable 50 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1545-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate 250mg/Ml Injectable 10 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1544-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hydroxocobalamin**

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1543-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hydromorphone/Clonidine P. F. 120mg/1.3mcg/Ml Intrathecal 10 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1542-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hydromorphone/Baclofen/Bupivacaine

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1541-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hydromorphone P.F. 20mg/Ml Intrathecal 40 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1540-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hydrogen Peroxide Pf 3% Injectable 150 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1539-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hydrochloric Acid Injection 2mg/Ml Injectable 400 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1538-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hyaluronidase/Methylprednisolone Acetate

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1537-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hyaluronidase / Lidocaine / Bupicavaine 7.1u/9.5mg/3.5mg/Ml Injectable 210 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1536-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hyaluronidase / Lidocaine 7.1u/9.5mg/Ml Injectable 105 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1535-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hyaluronidase - Preservative Free 150 U/Ml Injectable 1 Mls

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1534-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Hyaluronic Acid Sodium Salt 10mg/Ml Injectable 100 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1533-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Humulin-R Insulin

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1532-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Heparin Lock Sodium***

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1531-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Glycerin 99.5% Ophthalmic 10 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1530-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Glutathione Inhalation 30mg/Ml Solution 120 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1529-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Gentamicin 40mg/Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1528-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

G-C-P 0.1%/0.1%/0.05% Solution 250 Ml

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1527-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Gancyclovir

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Franck's Lab Inc. initiated a recall of all Sterile Human Drugs distributed between 11/21/2011 and 05/21/2012 because FDA environmental sampling revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth in the clean room where sterile products were prepared.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Franck's Lab Inc., d.b.a. Franck's Compounding Lab D-1526-2012