IV infusion therapy is increasingly common in aesthetic and wellness settings, but not every product being infused carries the same sourcing and quality assurances. For practices offering NAD+, glutathione, peptides, and other compounded products, understanding where a product came from, how it was prepared, and whether it is appropriate for intravenous use is an important part of patient safety.
IV infusion therapy has expanded rapidly in aesthetic and wellness settings. As these services have grown, so have questions about clinical oversight, product sourcing, compounding, monitoring, and whether the products administered are appropriate for intravenous use.
For practices offering IV therapy, one question deserves particular attention:
What is actually in the bag, and who has verified it?
NAD+, GLUTATHIONE, AND COMPOUNDED PRODUCTS
Many commonly administered IV products fall within familiar medication-safety frameworks. Other products, including NAD+, glutathione, peptides, and certain compounded supplements, present different sourcing and regulatory considerations.
Some compounded injectable products use substances that are commercially available primarily as food-grade or dietary supplement-grade ingredients rather than as FDA-approved injectable formulations. Recent CDC and FDA communications involving illnesses linked to compounded injectable products have highlighted the importance of verifying that ingredients are appropriate for the intended route of administration.
For a facility, knowing the supplier name is not enough. Practices should understand who compounded the product, what standards apply to its preparation, what testing and quality controls are used, and what documentation supports its use.
WHAT QUAD A STANDARDS REQUIRE TODAY
QUAD A's Non-Surgical Aesthetic and Wellness Standards for MedSpas already establish a clinical framework for IV therapy in accredited MedSpa facilities.
An appropriately authorized physician, PA, or APRN acting within their scope of practice and applicable law must prescribe IV therapy. Appropriately licensed and credentialed personnel must administer the therapy. Patients must undergo appropriate evaluation and informed consent before treatment, and qualified personnel must monitor them throughout the infusion for adverse events..
QUAD A standards also address medication safety, supervision, and the preparation and administration of IV therapies
Review the Non-Surgical Aesthetic and Wellness Accreditation Standards Manual for more details.
WHERE ADDITIONAL CLARITY IS NEEDED
The rapid growth of compounded and other nontraditional infusion products has raised questions that warrant greater specificity, particularly around sourcing, ingredient quality, verification, and the appropriateness of products for intravenous administration.
QUAD A’s Standards Committee is reviewing these issues as part of its ongoing MedSpa standards work. QUAD A will communicate any updated requirements and associated compliance timelines to accredited facilities once that review is complete.
WHAT PRACTICE OWNERS SHOULD REVIEW NOW
Practices offering IV therapy do not need to wait for updated standards to examine their own processes.
Two questions are a good place to start:
Where does your product come from?
Know the facility that compounded or manufactured it, its regulatory status, and the quality and testing controls behind the product.
How has it been verified?
Ask for documentation supporting the product’s source, quality, and suitability for the intended route of administration.
Practices should also ensure that qualified personnel appropriately prescribe, administer, and continuously monitor IV therapies, with safeguards in place to recognize and respond to adverse events.
Marketing claims should be accurate, supportable, and consistent with applicable regulatory requirements. Claims about the safety, effectiveness, performance, or health benefits of IV therapies should be supported by appropriate scientific evidence.
Questions
Thank you for your continued commitment to safe, compliant, and high‑quality care. Questions may be emailed to standards@quada.org.
Since 1980, QUAD A (a non-profit, physician-founded and led global accreditation organization) has worked with thousands of healthcare facilities to standardize and improve the quality of healthcare they provide – believing that patient safety should always come first.
