FDA Tells Compounding Pharmacies Not to Use Colorado Lab for Drug Testing

The Food and Drug Administration Aug. 21 said it is advising pharmacies of concerns about the adequacy of testing performed by Front Range Laboratories Inc. to verify the quality, sterility, and expiration dating of compounded drugs.

Front Range, based in Loveland, Colo., is an independent laboratory that performs quality-control testing primarily for compounding pharmacies, the agency said. This testing laboratory is used by more than 100 pharmacies in 32 states.

In a recent inspection, FDA investigators observed that methods used to assess sterility and other qualities (e.g., strength and stability) may have resulted in pharmacies receiving inaccurate laboratory test results. ...