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

Methylcobalamin 1

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. 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-1573-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Methionine/Inositol/Choline Chloride/Chrom/B12

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. 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-1572-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Methionine / Inositol / Choline Chloride 25mg/75mg/75mg/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. 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-1571-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Mepivacaine Hcl/Epinephrine. 2%/1:100

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. 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-1570-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Mannitol 20% Injectable 1250 Ml 250 Ml 2500 Ml 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. 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-1569-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Magnesium Chloride

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. 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-1568-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

L-Tryptophan 15mg/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. 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-1567-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Lorazepam 2mg/Ml Injectable 10 Ml 20 Ml 200 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. 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-1566-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Lithium Chloride 5mg/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. 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-1565-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Lissamine Green Solution 1% 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. 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-1564-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Lidocaine/Tetracaine Ophthalmic 4%/0.5% Solution 10 Ml 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. 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-1563-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Lidocaine/Sodium Bicarbonate/Heparin Irrigation 10.6mg/16.8mg/2667u/Ml Solutio 90 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. 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-1562-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Lidocaine/Epinephrine/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. 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-1561-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Lidocaine Hcl/Epinephrine in Bss - P.F.

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. 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-1560-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Lidocaine Hcl/Bupivacaine HCL Pf 1%/0.375% Ophthalmic 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. 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-1559-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Lidocaine HCL

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. 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-1558-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Levothyroxine Sodium 325mcg/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. 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-1557-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Levofloxacin

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. 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-1556-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Leucovorin

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. 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-1555-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

L-Arginine 500mg/Ml Injectable 2500 Ml 500 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. 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-1554-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Labetalol Hydrochloride 5mg/Ml Injectable 100 Ml 80 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. 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-1553-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Ketorolac Tromethamine 30mg/Ml Injectable 10 Ml 24 Ml 500 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. 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-1552-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Kenalog-40**

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. 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-1551-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Isosulfan Blue 1% Injectable 10 Ml 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. 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-1550-2012
Class II · Moderate risk

Iopamidol 41% Injectable 198 Ml 99 Ml 50 Ml 600 Ml 72 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. 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-1549-2012