Drugs

Med Shop Total Care, Inc.

FDA issued a warning letter to Med Shop Total Care, Inc. (Longview, TX, United States) on Mar 18, 2022. Subject: Compounding Pharmacy, Adulterated Drug Products.

From the letter: “You did not perform adequate product evaluation and take appropriate corrective action after microbial contamination was recovered within the ISO 5 aseptic processing area.”

Longview, TX, United StatesIssued Mar 18, 2022Posted Apr 12, 2022Close-out Oct 24, 2023

FDA published a close-out letter on Oct 24, 2023. The findings below are from the original warning letter.

At a glance

What a reviewer notes before reading: findings, citations, the response deadline and what the letter warns of.

Violations
7 findings · 5 issue types
Cited
No CFR or ISO section
Response due
Fifteen (15) working days of receipt
FDA asks for
3 actions
Named as possible actions
Seizure, injunction
Issued by
Office of Pharmaceutical Quality Operations, Division II · Office of Inspections and Investigations
Published status
Close-out Oct 24, 2023

AI assisted findings

Model-assisted reading of each issue. Open one to see the FDA text it comes from, and check it against the full letter.

01Investigations & OOSInadequate product evaluation and corrective action after microbial contamination in ISO 5 area.
You did not perform adequate product evaluation and take appropriate corrective action after microbial contamination was recovered within the ISO 5 aseptic processing area.
02Sterility & aseptic processingOperator removed gloved hands from ISO 5 area and re-entered without sanitizing.
An operator placed their gloved hands outside the ISO 5 aseptic processing area to retrieve supplies without sanitizing their gloved hands before re-entry into the ISO 5 hood.
03Production & process controlsNo adequate contact time established for disinfecting agent in aseptic processing areas.
Your firm failed to establish an adequate contact time for a disinfecting agent used in your aseptic processing areas.
04Facilities & equipmentBrownish residue on HEPA filter protective screen in ISO 5 area.
A brownish residue on the protective screen of the HEPA filter within your ISO 5 aseptic processing area.
05Investigations & OOSResponse to contamination observation inadequate; must assess impact on products.
Regarding your response to Observation 1, your response is inadequate. Any microbial contamination in the ISO 5 area is considered an insanitary condition. Any microbial contamination within the ISO 5 area is a serious concern and upon recovery, your firm should immediately assess the impact on drug products produced. This assessment should include a thorough evaluation of how contamination could have entered this critical area, and over what period of time the contamination could have existed, as well as drug products that remain on the market that could be affected.
06Laboratory controls & testingReliance on passing sterility test results is inadequate due to non-uniform contamination distribution.
Please note, microbial contamination, when present, is not uniformly distributed within a batch; therefore, it may not be identified in a sterility test. Compounding facilities producing drug products intended to be sterile under insanitary conditions should not rely upon or cite a passing sterility test result as an indication of product sterility.
07Production & process controlsResponse to keyboard observation lacks implementation timeframe and interim actions.
In response to Observation 5, we acknowledge your statement, “In an effort to reduce movement in and out of the hood, we are currently testing computer keyboards that are designed for clean room areas, and which may be kept inside the hood, so that logging information can be conducted during our processing.” However, your response is inadequate as it does not indicate a timeframe for implementation or any appropriate interim actions to address this concern.

What FDA requested

  • Conduct a comprehensive assessment of operations, including facility design, procedures, personnel, processes, maintenance, materials, and systems, with particular focus on aseptic processing operations.
  • Engage a third-party consultant with relevant sterile drug processing expertise to assist in the comprehensive evaluation.
  • Provide specific steps taken to address violations, including explanation of each step to prevent recurrence and copies of related documentation.

FDA Warning Letter

32 paragraphs · 5 sections

Text as published on FDA.gov, retrieved Sep 8, 2026. Layout added for reading; the wording is FDA’s. View on FDA.gov (opens in a new tab)

DatedMarch 18, 2022
Sent toCase #628182
AddressedDear Ms. Yoakum

1Introduction

2 paragraphs

From July 7, 2021, to July 27, 2021, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigator inspected your facility, Med Shop Total Care, Inc., located at 470 E Loop 281, Longview, TX 75605. During the inspection, the investigator noted serious deficiencies in your practices for producing sterile drug products, which put patients at risk.

FDA issued a Form FDA 483 to your firm on July 27, 2021. FDA acknowledges receipt of your facility’s response, dated August 17, 2021. Based on this inspection, it appears that you produced drug products that violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).

2A. Compounded Drug Products Under the FDCA

1 paragraph

Section 503A of the FDCA describes the conditions under which human drug products compounded by a licensed pharmacist in a State licensed pharmacy or a Federal facility, or a licensed physician, qualify for exemptions from three sections of the FDCA: compliance with current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) (section 501(a)(2)(B)); labeling with adequate directions for use (section 502(f)(1)); and FDA approval prior to marketing (section 505) [21 U.S.C. §§ 351(a)(2)(B), 352(f)(1) and 355(a)]. B. Violations of the FDCA

3Adulterated Drug Products

6 paragraphs

The FDA investigator noted that drug products were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions, whereby they may have become contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health, causing your drug products to be adulterated under section 501(a)(2)(A) of the FDCA. For example, the investigator observed:

1. You did not perform adequate product evaluation and take appropriate corrective action after microbial contamination was recovered within the ISO 5 aseptic processing area.

2. An operator placed their gloved hands outside the ISO 5 aseptic processing area to retrieve supplies without sanitizing their gloved hands before re-entry into the ISO 5 hood.

3. Your firm failed to establish an adequate contact time for a disinfecting agent used in your aseptic processing areas.

4. A brownish residue on the protective screen of the HEPA filter within your ISO 5 aseptic processing area.

It is a prohibited act under section 301(k) of the FDCA [21 U.S.C. § 331(k)] to do any act with respect to a drug, if such act is done while the drug is held for sale after shipment in interstate commerce and results in the drug being adulterated.

4C. Corrective Actions

7 paragraphs

We have reviewed your firm’s response to the Form FDA 483.

Regarding your responses related to the insanitary conditions, some of your corrective actions appear adequate; however, the following corrective actions appear deficient:

1. Regarding your response to Observation 1, your response is inadequate. Any microbial contamination in the ISO 5 area is considered an insanitary condition. Any microbial contamination within the ISO 5 area is a serious concern and upon recovery, your firm should immediately assess the impact on drug products produced. This assessment should include a thorough evaluation of how contamination could have entered this critical area, and over what period of time the contamination could have existed, as well as drug products that remain on the market that could be affected.

In addition, in response to Observation 7, we acknowledge your immediate recall upon notification from your third-party testing laboratory of a sterility failure for a bulk intermediate. We also acknowledge your statement that all recovered prescriptions that contained the lot in question “…were tested for sterility and test results showed that all were sterile.” Please note, microbial contamination, when present, is not uniformly distributed within a batch; therefore, it may not be identified in a sterility test. Compounding facilities producing drug products intended to be sterile under insanitary conditions should not rely upon or cite a passing sterility test result as an indication of product sterility.

2. In response to Observation 5, we acknowledge your statement, “In an effort to reduce movement in and out of the hood, we are currently testing computer keyboards that are designed for clean room areas, and which may be kept inside the hood, so that logging information can be conducted during our processing.” However, your response is inadequate as it does not indicate a timeframe for implementation or any appropriate interim actions to address this concern.

Please be aware that section 501(a)(2)(A) of the FDCA concerning insanitary conditions applies regardless of whether drug products you compound meet the conditions of section 503A.

FDA strongly recommends that your management undertake a comprehensive assessment of operations, including facility design, procedures, personnel, processes, maintenance, materials, and systems. In particular, this review should assess your aseptic processing operations. A third-party consultant with relevant sterile drug processing expertise should assist you in conducting this comprehensive evaluation.

5D. Conclusion

5 paragraphs

The violations cited in this letter are not intended to be an all-inclusive statement of violations at your facility. You are responsible for investigating and determining the causes of any violations and for preventing their recurrence or the occurrence of other violations. It is your responsibility to ensure that your firm complies with all requirements of federal law, including FDA regulations.

You should take prompt action to correct any violations. Failure to adequately address any violations may result in legal action without further notice, including, without limitation, seizure and injunction.

Response requested

Within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of this letter, please notify this office in writing of the specific steps that you have taken to address any violations. Please include an explanation of each step being taken to prevent the recurrence of any violations, as well as copies of related documentation. If you believe that your products are not in violation of the FDCA, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration. If you cannot completely address this matter within fifteen (15) working days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which you will do so.

Your written notification should refer to the Warning Letter Number above (Case #628182). Please electronically submit your signed reply on your firm’s letterhead to ORA PHARM2 Acting DCB at orapharm2actingdcb@fda.hhs.gov and orapharm2_responses@fda.hhs.gov.

If you have questions regarding the contents of this letter, you may contact Mr. Thao Ta, Compliance Officer, via phone at 214-253-5217 or e-mail at thao.ta@fda.hhs.gov.

Sincerely, /S/

Monica R. Maxwell Program Division Director Office of Pharmaceutical Quality Operations, Division II

cc: VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL Tim Tucker, Pharm.D., Executive Director/Secretary Texas State Board of Pharmacy 333 Guadalupe, Suite #3-500 Austin, Texas 78701 tim.tucker@pharmacy.texas.gov

Citations and trends

Each 21 CFR section, ISO 13485 clause and issue type in this letter, how often it appears across all letters, and its trend by the year FDA issued the letters. 2026 runs to Nov 3, 2026, compared with the same dates last year. Select a row or a bar to see those letters in Letters. As cited in this historical letter, not a statement of current requirements.

This letter cites no 21 CFR section or ISO 13485 clause.

Issue types

Investigations & OOSAI-assigned issue type199letters2findings here
46 letters issued this year vs 33 by the same date last year · +39%

Record details

Issuing center
Office of Inspections and Investigations
Issuing office
Office of Pharmaceutical Quality Operations, Division II
Location
Longview, TX, United States
Letter posted date
Apr 12, 2022
Letter issue date
Mar 18, 2022
Addressed to
Co-Owner and Pharmacist-In-Charge
Inspection dates · model-assisted
Jul 7, 2021 to Jul 27, 2021
Response window
15 working days after receipt of this letter
Read the source clause
Within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of this letter, please notify this office in writing of the specific steps that you have taken to address any violations.
Record length
1,055 words · 0 recorded redactions
Published status
Close-out published Oct 24, 2023
Original letter
View on FDA.gov (opens in a new tab)
Dataset last checked
Nov 11, 2026 · How this is built

A response window is not a calculated due date. Source excerpts are selected passages. Finding interpretations and categories are model-assisted. Verify the original letter before relying on a finding.

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