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

Dextrose/Procaine HCL P.F. 12%/1% 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-1500-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Dexpanthenol 250mg/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-1499-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Dexamethasone/Bacteriostatic Water Iontophoresis 0.5mg/5ml

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-1498-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Pf 0.04% Ophthalmic 2 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-1497-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Depo-Testosterone

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-1496-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Dapiprazole Ophthalmic 0.5% Solution 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-1495-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Cyclosporine

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-1494-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Cyclopentalate/Phenylephrine 1%/2.5% Ophthalmic 5 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-1493-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Cyclopent/Phenyleph/Tropicamide/Proparacaine 2%/2.5%/1%/0.5% Ophthalmic 5 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-1492-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Cyclopent/Lidocaine/Phenylephrine/Tropicamide 0.5%/0.5%/0.625%/0.25% Ophthalmic 20 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-1491-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Cyclopent/Ketorolac/Phenyleph/Tropicamide 1%/0.5%/2.5%/1% Ophthalmic 70 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-1490-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Cyclopent/Flurbipr/Phenyleph/Proparacaine .25%/0.0075%/0.625%/0.125% Ophthalmic 56 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-1489-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Cyanocobalamin

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-1488-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Copper Gluconate 2mg/Ml Injectable 30 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-1487-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Clindamycin Ophthalmic

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-1486-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Cisplatin 1mg/Ml Injectable 1000 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-1485-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Chromium Picolinate 200mcg/Ml Injectable 60 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-1484-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Chorionic Gonadotropin

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-1483-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Ceftazidime Ophthalmic

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-1482-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Cefazolin in Artificial Tears 50mg/Ml 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-1481-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Calcium Chloride Dihydrate

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-1480-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Bupivacaine/Sufentanil

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-1479-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Bupivacaine/Morphine Sulfate

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-1478-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Bupivacaine/Lidocaine/Methylprednisolone 0.17% / 0.67% / 2.7% Injectable 15 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-1477-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Bupivacaine/Lidocaine 0.11% / 0.44% 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-1476-2012