How to check a compounding pharmacy

Short answer: look the pharmacy up on your state board of pharmacy’s license search, check FDA’s compounding enforcement page for warning letters or recalls, and make sure the label and paperwork match what the HHS peptide policy requires. Do not rely on a badge or a claim on the pharmacy’s own website.

1. Know which kind of pharmacy it is

• 503A compounding pharmacy: a state-licensed pharmacy that compounds a drug for one patient based on a prescription. The HHS peptide policy covers this type (along with federal facilities and licensed physicians) [1].
• 503B outsourcing facility: registers with FDA as an outsourcing facility. FDA says registration does not mean the facility makes FDA-approved drugs or that it complies with manufacturing rules [4]. The HHS peptide policy is written for 503A compounding [1].

Ask the pharmacy which one it is. A pharmacy that cannot answer is a red flag.

2. Look up the license

Use FDA’s BeSafeRx page to find the official license search for each state board of pharmacy [2]. Check:

• the state where the pharmacy is located;
• your own state, if the pharmacy ships to you;
• that the license is active, and whether it lists any discipline.

If you cannot confirm that a pharmacy is licensed in the United States, FDA advises not to use it [2].

3. Check FDA’s enforcement record

FDA’s “Compounding: Inspections, Recalls, and other Actions” page lists warning letters, inspection findings (Form 483) and recalls for compounders, marked 503A or 503B [3]. Search it for the pharmacy’s name.

4. Check any LegitScript claim

LegitScript certifies healthcare websites and keeps a public lookup [5]. If a site shows the LegitScript seal, click it or search the site’s address on LegitScript’s lookup. A seal image alone proves nothing.

5. For a peptide, check the paperwork against the HHS conditions

The HHS policy sets ten conditions [1]. You can check these yourself:

What to check	What the HHS policy requires
The peptide	It is one of the six on the HHS list: BPC-157, Epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c, Semax or TB-500
The form	It matches the routes HHS lists for that peptide (for example, Semax is intranasal only)
The prescription	A prescription for you by name, from a licensed prescriber
The label	It says: “This is a compounded drug product. Not for resale.”
Ingredients	One active ingredient from the list. Blends are not covered
The syringe	If a device is packed with it, it is an FDA 510(k)-cleared syringe
Problem reporting	The label tells you how to report side effects or quality problems

Two conditions you cannot see yourself, but you can ask about: the ingredient must come from an FDA-registered facility with a valid certificate of analysis (COA), and the original manufacturer’s address must be on that COA [1]. See how to read a peptide COA.

Red flags

• The seller says “research use only” or “not for human use”.
• No prescription is needed, or the prescription is not in your name.
• A blend of two or more peptides in one vial.
• A form HHS does not list for that peptide, such as an oral TB-500.
• The label does not say it is a compounded drug.
• The pharmacy will not tell you its license number or which state licenses it.

What this check does not tell you

A clean license and record do not mean a compounded drug is safe or works. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, which means FDA does not review their safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed [1]. Talk to a licensed clinician about whether a peptide is right for you.

Change log

• November 5, 2026: page created.