Are People Sending Compounded Vials for Third-Party Testing?

[CookiesPlease]

Has anyone here used 3P testing on vials obtained from licensed US compounding pharmacies? Or, while we're at it, on brand-name GLP vials? The assumption is that these carry lower risk than gray market sources. Still, I'd like to know whether anyone in this community has actually put that assumption to the test.

 

[CoquiPrincess]

To be honest, there’s no real reason to do that. The potential downsides are too great. You might give it a shot.

 

[desinr-gal]

Is anyone out there getting their compounded vials analyzed by an outside lab, and do they share COAs for what's in those compounds?

 

[indolent]

CookiesPlease said:

Has anyone here used 3P testing on vials obtained from licensed US compounding pharmacies? Or, while we're at it, on brand-name GLP vials? The assumption is that these carry lower risk than gray market sources. Still, I'd like to know whether anyone in this community has actually put that assumption to the test.

My take is the complete reverse of that.

For GLP-1s, there have been no legitimate compounding pharmacies for more than a year now — that's when the FDA called the shortage over. The very same sociopathy behind their pretense is what would make them ignore mass, purity, sanitation, endotoxins or contamination in what they sell to customers. Same goes for correct recon ratios, diluents, and so on.

And obviously their supply comes from the same places you'd use via the grey market. The difference is you'd exercise far more caution, since it's going into your own body.

And a CoA from an online compounding pharmacy should be trusted very very definitely not at all. That's worse than trusting a CoA from a CN vendor.

Just no!

 

[FartfulCodger]

Pharmacies with long-standing good names, Hallandale included, would risk far too much if they skipped testing. If their reputation took a hit, it would destroy their entire business across every other compounded product they sell, and state regulators would close them down. I suspect their testing goes beyond even the most thorough service Janoshik offers.

 

[Flash-BCR]

Setting aside speculation and conjecture, the original poster's query still stands: "has anyone done the testing"...It would genuinely be intriguing to see some findings...

 

[HouseCat]

A few months back (Jan? Feb?) while I was still on Reddit, I came across 2 individuals in the Tirzepatide Compound subreddit who had their compounded tirz tested — and after that, I never saw it happen again. Why so rare? For one, the majority of labs handle lypholized powder rather than solutions. On top of that, handing over a vial — typically $130 or more — is a big ask, and because buying via the single vial route (or a multi use vial covering 3-6 months) means building a stockpile takes longer, folks are less willing to part with their meds just for testing.

There was also a scandal on the subreddit before I showed up, involving a compounding pharmacy called Ousia, where the product was made under conditions that were nowhere near sterile — people nicknamed it bathtub tirz. From what I've read, most say it still did the job fine, and 1 user claimed it came back clean on testing, but that's all secondhand hearsay.

 

[oldjarhead]

My compounded supply has raised some doubts for me.

Flu-like feelings hit me on vials 2 and 4. At the time I figured that was simply how things go. Later on I found out that Tirzepatide can carry elevated endotoxins, and the reactions people get look a lot like the flu.

I'm not out to spread rumors. Still, I'm fairly sure the compounding pharmacy sent me vials with active endotoxins.

No, I didn't die.

These days I test my meds through a far better route, and I'm as sure as I can be that whatever I believe it to be... that's what it is... and it's clean.

 

[Ravenclawblues]

Seems like you can get the COAs straight from the compounding pharmacies, or they're already out there. Over on Reddit I've come across a handful of comments plus a single picture about some. Thing is, that COA originated with the pharmacy itself, so I'm on the fence about whether every batch actually gets tested. As far as I can remember, I've never come across endo information.

 

[spanky2026]

Before long, we'll all be hitting up Johnson & Johnson for COAs on our Tylenol.

 

[Oldguy]

Everybody is after some kind of documented assurance…. What is that extended car warranty really worth? It is worthless—less than the paper it is printed on. So do you believe the COA’s are any different

 

[zkprv]

CookiesPlease said:

Has anyone here used 3P testing on vials obtained from licensed US compounding pharmacies? Or, while we're at it, on brand-name GLP vials? The assumption is that these carry lower risk than gray market sources. Still, I'd like to know whether anyone in this community has actually put that assumption to the test.

While I was getting my own grey world tests organized, I reached out to a compounding pharmacy I've been collaborating with. My question to them was whether they do inhouse testing (I was hoping to pay them under the table to run tests on my grey product) -- they didn't hold back at all and told me that each batch gets sent to a 3d party testing lab. They hold full licensing and have far too much on the line to cut corners

 

[YoYoFat]

desinr-gal said:

Is anyone out there getting their compounded vials analyzed by an outside lab, and do they share COAs for what's in those compounds?

If you request it, then yes.

On top of that, they’ll show you the source of their API ().

 

[YoYoFat]

CookiesPlease said:

Has anyone here used 3P testing on vials obtained from licensed US compounding pharmacies? Or, while we're at it, on brand-name GLP vials? The assumption is that these carry lower risk than gray market sources. Still, I'd like to know whether anyone in this community has actually put that assumption to the test.

Back around late 2024, Jano ran a test on a Monjauro pen. From what I recall, the result was 95-96%.

 

[moodymama76]

Ravenclawblues said:

Seems like you can get the COAs straight from the compounding pharmacies, or they're already out there. Over on Reddit I've come across a handful of comments plus a single picture about some. Thing is, that COA originated with the pharmacy itself, so I'm on the fence about whether every batch actually gets tested. As far as I can remember, I've never come across endo information.

COAs from prorx show up through Google searches, and you're also able to request them directly from the pharmacy. Endos are part of what they list. A handful of vials are still in my possession despite that company having stopped compounding. Over on Reddit, several folks have reached out for the COA tied to their own vials, and when some of those were tested, the result came back overfilled at 19mg/ml rather than the 18 that was stated at the start. Others, meanwhile, landed underfilled, around 17.

Needless to say, certain compounders like Greenwich raise red flags.

 

[Ravenclawblues]

moodymama76 said:

Ravenclawblues said:

Seems like you can get the COAs straight from the compounding pharmacies, or they're already out there. Over on Reddit I've come across a handful of comments plus a single picture about some. Thing is, that COA originated with the pharmacy itself, so I'm on the fence about whether every batch actually gets tested. As far as I can remember, I've never come across endo information.

COAs from prorx show up through Google searches, and you're also able to request them directly from the pharmacy. Endos are part of what they list. A handful of vials are still in my possession despite that company having stopped compounding. Over on Reddit, several folks have reached out for the COA tied to their own vials, and when some of those were tested, the result came back overfilled at 19mg/ml rather than the 18 that was stated at the start. Others, meanwhile, landed underfilled, around 17.

Needless to say, certain compounders like Greenwich raise red flags.

It's always curious to me when folks say a particular pharmacy's product hits weaker (or stronger). Usually that's probably just perception. The single COA I came across showed a bit of overfill. Tirz is Tirz, but if a vial is underfilled you'd feel less because your dose is smaller. What fill margins do they consider acceptable, I wonder?

 

[moodymama76]

Ravenclawblues said:

moodymama76 said:

Ravenclawblues said:

Seems like you can get the COAs straight from the compounding pharmacies, or they're already out there. Over on Reddit I've come across a handful of comments plus a single picture about some. Thing is, that COA originated with the pharmacy itself, so I'm on the fence about whether every batch actually gets tested. As far as I can remember, I've never come across endo information.

COAs from prorx show up through Google searches, and you're also able to request them directly from the pharmacy. Endos are part of what they list. A handful of vials are still in my possession despite that company having stopped compounding. Over on Reddit, several folks have reached out for the COA tied to their own vials, and when some of those were tested, the result came back overfilled at 19mg/ml rather than the 18 that was stated at the start. Others, meanwhile, landed underfilled, around 17.

Needless to say, certain compounders like Greenwich raise red flags.

It's always curious to me when folks say a particular pharmacy's product hits weaker (or stronger). Usually that's probably just perception. The single COA I came across showed a bit of overfill. Tirz is Tirz, but if a vial is underfilled you'd feel less because your dose is smaller. What fill margins do they consider acceptable, I wonder?

According to the rules, that figure stands at 10%.

 

[4StrandKnot]

desinr-gal said:

Is anyone out there getting their compounded vials analyzed by an outside lab, and do they share COAs for what's in those compounds?

Indeed. It requires a specific request on your part.

 

[Grogu]

HouseCat said:

A few months back (Jan? Feb?) while I was still on Reddit, I came across 2 individuals in the Tirzepatide Compound subreddit who had their compounded tirz tested — and after that, I never saw it happen again. Why so rare? For one, the majority of labs handle lypholized powder rather than solutions. On top of that, handing over a vial — typically $130 or more — is a big ask, and because buying via the single vial route (or a multi use vial covering 3-6 months) means building a stockpile takes longer, folks are less willing to part with their meds just for testing.

There was also a scandal on the subreddit before I showed up, involving a compounding pharmacy called Ousia, where the product was made under conditions that were nowhere near sterile — people nicknamed it bathtub tirz. From what I've read, most say it still did the job fine, and 1 user claimed it came back clean on testing, but that's all secondhand hearsay.

Yeah, that whole situation was wild. I was part of that community back when it all happened, and thankfully my compounded triz wasn't coming from Denise and her bathtub . Some testing and COAs did come out of it. From what I remember, it flunked sterility. A curious detail about Ouisa: they were the sole pharmacy that held the dose in mL constant across MGs, the way Lilly does with the brand product.

indolent said:

CookiesPlease said:

Has anyone here used 3P testing on vials obtained from licensed US compounding pharmacies? Or, while we're at it, on brand-name GLP vials? The assumption is that these carry lower risk than gray market sources. Still, I'd like to know whether anyone in this community has actually put that assumption to the test.

My take is the complete reverse of that.

For GLP-1s, there have been no legitimate compounding pharmacies for more than a year now — that's when the FDA called the shortage over. The very same sociopathy behind their pretense is what would make them ignore mass, purity, sanitation, endotoxins or contamination in what they sell to customers. Same goes for correct recon ratios, diluents, and so on.

And obviously their supply comes from the same places you'd use via the grey market. The difference is you'd exercise far more caution, since it's going into your own body.

And a CoA from an online compounding pharmacy should be trusted very very definitely not at all. That's worse than trusting a CoA from a CN vendor.

Just no!

100% . During my time in the compounded space, I bought compounded tirz exclusively from 503b outsourcing facilities, and even those had dubious FDA inspections and other problems.

indolent said:

CookiesPlease said:

Has anyone here used 3P testing on vials obtained from licensed US compounding pharmacies? Or, while we're at it, on brand-name GLP vials? The assumption is that these carry lower risk than gray market sources. Still, I'd like to know whether anyone in this community has actually put that assumption to the test.

My take is the complete reverse of that.

For GLP-1s, there have been no legitimate compounding pharmacies for more than a year now — that's when the FDA called the shortage over. The very same sociopathy behind their pretense is what would make them ignore mass, purity, sanitation, endotoxins or contamination in what they sell to customers. Same goes for correct recon ratios, diluents, and so on.

And obviously their supply comes from the same places you'd use via the grey market. The difference is you'd exercise far more caution, since it's going into your own body.

And a CoA from an online compounding pharmacy should be trusted very very definitely not at all. That's worse than trusting a CoA from a CN vendor.

Just no!

That's what I suspected, and it's how I wound up in the grey space. With the 503b space shutting down, I figured I may as well reconstitute on my own. These small 503a pharmacies are doing the same thing. You'd hope they'd have FDA approved sources available, but I doubt they'd shell out the premium for those kits.

 

[bamagirl26]

indolent said:

CookiesPlease said:

Has anyone here used 3P testing on vials obtained from licensed US compounding pharmacies? Or, while we're at it, on brand-name GLP vials? The assumption is that these carry lower risk than gray market sources. Still, I'd like to know whether anyone in this community has actually put that assumption to the test.

My take is the complete reverse of that.

For GLP-1s, there have been no legitimate compounding pharmacies for more than a year now — that's when the FDA called the shortage over. The very same sociopathy behind their pretense is what would make them ignore mass, purity, sanitation, endotoxins or contamination in what they sell to customers. Same goes for correct recon ratios, diluents, and so on.

And obviously their supply comes from the same places you'd use via the grey market. The difference is you'd exercise far more caution, since it's going into your own body.

And a CoA from an online compounding pharmacy should be trusted very very definitely not at all. That's worse than trusting a CoA from a CN vendor.

Just no!

When my daughter got upset with me, I attempted to explain this to her: it seems to me that the fly-by-night pharmacies disclose even less about the item I care about than what I find through my own investigation and testing.