That “fake Hospira” lot RH7241 looks like it was real

Krysia’s follow-up on the Hospira BAC scare is out today. Short version: the lot everyone was calling fake is a real Pfizer lot, the water that got tested came back fine, and a lot of the original red flags have pretty boring explanations. Packaging still isn’t fully signed off by Pfizer.

What kicked this off was lot RH7241, expiry 31 MAR 2028, label code RL-7705. Cap looked a little off, lot/expiry was printed horizontal instead of that big vertical black panel, and there was no Data Matrix on the crimp. PeptideTest even warned a customer it might not be genuine and says that precaution cost them about $20k.

Pfizer then confirmed the lot exists. Certificate of Compliance lists Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP, NDC 00409-3977-03, lot RH7241, expiry 03/31/2028. Krysia emailed Pfizer and they sent the same certificate. Important catch on the certificate itself: having the paper does not prove the bottle in your hand is authentic Pfizer stock.

PeptideTest says they asked Pfizer Injectables about the new look and were told there had been no label change, and that they would have gotten an email if there had. That’s why they raised the alarm. They now think that was wrong. Quote: “It seems that the water was not counterfeit.” They’re calling it about 99%, still waiting on leftover checks.

Pfizer has not confirmed the new packaging. After they saw the photos, customer service said the discrepancy is under review.

PeptideTest also says they tested the RH7241 water for benzyl alcohol, pH, and endotoxin. All satisfactory. Sterility was sent out and is still pending. That still doesn’t prove the bottle came from Pfizer. It does make “mystery fake water in a Hospira costume” a lot less likely.

A few things that looked shady were just packaging levels. Vial NDC is 0409-3977-01. Tray NDC is 0409-3977-03. Horizontal lot/expiry has shown up on real stock before. Tray code CA-7348 already exists in Hospira/Pfizer records. RL-7705 looks like a newer label than the RL-7699 people were comparing against.

The Data Matrix on the crimp is the one thing that still looks odd. It isn’t a QR code. Older vials have one and they scan to things like ML7717 and MY7096. RH7241 vials don’t appear to have it. Aminos had argued anything expiring after Feb 2027 should have that mark. RH7241 expires March 2028. Problem is nobody’s found a Pfizer spec that says every real vial from that period must have one, and other normal-looking Hospira has now shown up without it too.

RH7241 also isn’t one random bottle. Same labeling showed up through a group buy from what they called a reputable medical supplier, plus full tray packaging with the same lot and expiry. Side by side with an older vial expiring 29 FEB 2028 (lot RF3736), the difference is obvious. Old one has the tall vertical lot panel and a crimp code. RH7241 has the smaller horizontal panel, RL-7705, NDC 0409-3977-01.

Older cases were marked Made in India. The RH7241 cases they’ve seen aren’t. There is a US box-maker stamp (Carolina Container, Thomasville NC), which does not prove the water was made in the US.

Where it stands: lot is real, water that got tested looks like BAC water, several “fake” tells have explanations, Pfizer still hasn’t signed off on the new look, sterility still pending. Right now it reads more like genuine Hospira that changed enough to spook people, including the people selling it.

Anyone else sitting on RH7241 / RL-7705 / 31MAR2028? Curious if yours has a Data Matrix on the crimp or not.