QC and release testing is the GMP-grade analytical work that decides whether a manufactured batch can be dosed in patients, checking identity, potency, purity, sterility, and endotoxin against an approved specification. You need it once material is made under GMP, from first clinical batch through commercial supply. On BioBridgeX, buyers source and compare qualified CDMOs and release labs in one place, free for buyers.
QC & Release Testing CDMOs (132)
Famar Group
CDMO · Formulation Development, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Process Development
Nipro PharmaPackaging
CDMO · Drug Product Manufacturing, Aseptic Fill-Finish, QC & Release Testing
Emergent BioSolutions (CDMO Services)
CDMO · Process Development, Drug Substance: Biologics, Drug Product Manufacturing
AbbVie Contract Manufacturing
CRO & CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Drug Substance: Biologics, Formulation Development
Singota Solutions
CDMO · Aseptic Fill-Finish, Drug Product Manufacturing, QC & Release Testing
Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services
CDMO · Aseptic Fill-Finish, Drug Product Manufacturing, QC & Release Testing
Novocol Pharma
CDMO · Formulation Development, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Process Development
Lifecore Biomedical
CDMO · Formulation Development, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Process Development
Kindeva Drug Delivery
CDMO · Formulation Development, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Process Development
Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM)
CDMO · Formulation Development, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Process Development
Curia Global
CRO & CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Drug Substance: Biologics, Formulation Development
Jubilant HollisterStier
CDMO · Formulation Development, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Process Development
Siegfried Holding
CRO & CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Formulation Development, LNP / Delivery Formulation
Aenova Group
CDMO · Formulation Development, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Process Development
Fresenius Kabi Contract Manufacturing
CDMO · Formulation Development, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Process Development
Simtra BioPharma Solutions
CDMO · Formulation Development, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Process Development
Vetter Pharma
CDMO · Formulation Development, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Process Development
PCI Pharma Services
CDMO · Aseptic Fill-Finish, Drug Product Manufacturing, Formulation Development
LOTTE BIOLOGICS
CDMO · Drug Substance: Biologics, ADC / Bioconjugation, Cell Line / Strain Development
BSP Pharmaceuticals
CDMO · ADC / Bioconjugation, Aseptic Fill-Finish, Drug Product Manufacturing
Oncotec Pharma Produktion (medac group)
CDMO · Aseptic Fill-Finish, Drug Product Manufacturing, Formulation Development
MilliporeSigma (SAFC)
CDMO · ADC / Bioconjugation, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development
WuXi XDC
CDMO · ADC / Bioconjugation, Drug Substance: Biologics, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
WuXi STA (STA Pharmaceutical)
CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, ADC / Bioconjugation
CPC Scientific
CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, Process Development, Analytical Development
Senn Chemicals (Granules India)
CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, Process Development, Analytical Development
Recipharm
CDMO · mRNA / RNA Manufacturing, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Drug Product Manufacturing
Fujifilm (Toyama Chemical / FUJIFILM Diosynth LNP)
CDMO · mRNA / RNA Manufacturing, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Aseptic Fill-Finish
Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
CRO & CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, ADC / Bioconjugation, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
CSBio
CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, Process Development, Analytical Development
Bio-Synthesis Inc
CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, mRNA / RNA Manufacturing, ADC / Bioconjugation
Northern RNA
CDMO · mRNA / RNA Manufacturing, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing
TriLink BioTechnologies (Maravai LifeSciences)
CDMO · mRNA / RNA Manufacturing, Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, Process Development
Agilent Technologies
CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, Process Development, Analytical Development
ST Pharm
CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, mRNA / RNA Manufacturing, Process Development
Nitto Avecia Pharma Services
CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, Process Development, Analytical Development
WuXi TIDES (WuXi AppTec)
CRO & CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, ADC / Bioconjugation, Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry
Kaneka Eurogentec
CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, Drug Substance: Biologics
PolyPeptide Group
CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, Process Development, Analytical Development
Advanced BioScience Laboratories (ABL)
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Process Development, Analytical Development
Merck KGaA (MilliporeSigma / Sigma-Aldrich CTDMO)
CRO & CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Cell Therapy Manufacturing, mRNA / RNA Manufacturing
Vernal Biosciences
CDMO · mRNA / RNA Manufacturing, LNP / Delivery Formulation, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing
Ascend Advanced Therapies
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Process Development, Analytical Development
IDT Biologika
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Process Development, Analytical Development
Vibalogics (ReciBioPharm / Recipharm)
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Process Development, Analytical Development
VectorBuilder
CRO & CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, Process Development
Pharmaron (Biologics / CGT)
CRO & CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, Cell Therapy Manufacturing
Esco Aster
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, Cell Therapy Manufacturing
3PBIOVIAN (3P Biopharmaceuticals + Biovian)
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, Cell Therapy Manufacturing
Eurogentec (Kaneka)
CDMO · Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, mRNA / RNA Manufacturing
PackGene Biotech
CRO & CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, mRNA / RNA Manufacturing
SK pharmteco
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, Cell Therapy Manufacturing
The Center for Breakthrough Medicines
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing
ElevateBio BaseCamp
CDMO · Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Viral Vector Manufacturing, Process Development
RoslinCT
CDMO · Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Process Development, Analytical Development
Minaris Advanced Therapies
CDMO · Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Viral Vector Manufacturing, Process Development
Cellipont Bioservices
CDMO · Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Process Development, Analytical Development
Viralgen (AskBio)
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Process Development, Analytical Development
Andelyn Biosciences
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, Process Development
Forge Biologics (Ajinomoto)
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, Process Development
Aldevron (Danaher)
CDMO · Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, mRNA / RNA Manufacturing, Process Development
FUJIFILM Biotechnologies (formerly FUJIFILM Diosynth)
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Process Development
Oxford Biomedica
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing, Process Development
WuXi Advanced Therapies
CRO & CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing
Catalent
CDMO · Viral Vector Manufacturing, Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing
Aldevron
CDMO · Process Development, Analytical Development, Plasmid DNA Manufacturing
Polpharma Biologics
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Bora Biologics
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Binex
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
GenScript ProBio
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Wacker Biotech
CDMO · Process Development, Analytical Development, Drug Substance: Biologics
Richter BioLogics (Richter-Helm)
CDMO · Process Development, Analytical Development, Drug Substance: Biologics
3PBIOVIAN
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Avid Bioservices
CDMO · Process Development, Analytical Development, Drug Substance: Biologics
Cytovance Biologics
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
GBI (Goodwin Biotechnology)
CDMO · Process Development, Analytical Development, Drug Substance: Biologics
BioVectra
CDMO · Process Development, Analytical Development, Drug Substance: Biologics
ProBioGen
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Just - Evotec Biologics
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Northway Biotech
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Wheeler Bio
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Rentschler Biopharma
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
KBI Biopharma
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
AGC Biologics
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Catalent Biologics
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Boehringer Ingelheim BioXcellence
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
WuXi Biologics
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Samsung Biologics
CDMO · Cell Line / Strain Development, Process Development, Analytical Development
Teva API (TAPI)
CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development, Analytical Development
Almac Group
CRO & CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
Onyx Scientific (IPCA)
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
Laurus Labs (Laurus Synthesis)
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
Navin Molecular (Navin Fluorine)
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
F.I.S. (Fabbrica Italiana Sintetici)
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
PROCOS
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
Sumitomo Chemical (Pharmaceuticals/CDMO)
CDMO · Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Analytical Development
Fermion (Orion Corporation)
CDMO · Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Analytical Development
Minakem (Minafin Group)
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
Curia (formerly AMRI)
CRO & CDMO · Target ID & Validation, Hit-to-Lead, Lead Optimization
Bachem
CDMO · Peptide / Oligo Synthesis, Process Development, Analytical Development
AMPAC Fine Chemicals (SK pharmteco)
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
Veranova
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
Pfizer CentreOne
CRO & CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development, Analytical Development
Noramco
CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development, Analytical Development
Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon)
CRO & CDMO · Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Analytical Development
Divi's Laboratories
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
Dr. Reddy's Custom Pharma Services (CPS)
CRO & CDMO · Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Analytical Development
Piramal Pharma Solutions
CRO & CDMO · Hit-to-Lead, Lead Optimization, Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry
EUROAPI
CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development, Analytical Development
Seqens
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
Olon Group
CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development, Analytical Development
Fareva
CRO & CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development, Analytical Development
DOTTIKON ES
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
Hovione
CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development, Analytical Development
CordenPharma
CRO & CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development, Analytical Development
Sterling Pharma Solutions
CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
WuXi STA (WuXi AppTec)
CRO & CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Analytical Development
Asymchem
CRO & CDMO · Medicinal & Synthetic Chemistry, Process Development, Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API
Siegfried
CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development, Analytical Development
Cambrex
CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development, Analytical Development
Lonza
CRO & CDMO · Drug Substance: Small Molecule / API, Process Development, Analytical Development
Eurofins (Pharma Discovery & Bioanalytical Services)
CRO & CDMO · Bioanalytical Services, Central Laboratory Services, Genetic Toxicology
Nucro-Technics
CRO & CDMO · GLP Toxicology, Genetic Toxicology, Bioanalytical Services
Abzena
CRO & CDMO · Assay Development & Screening, Hit-to-Lead, Lead Optimization
Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services
CRO & CDMO · Target ID & Validation, Assay Development & Screening, Hit-to-Lead
Syngene International
CRO & CDMO · GLP Toxicology, Safety Pharmacology, DMPK / ADME
Aragen Life Sciences
CRO & CDMO · DMPK / ADME, GLP Toxicology, Safety Pharmacology
Sai Life Sciences
CRO & CDMO · DMPK / ADME, In Vitro / Early Toxicology, GLP Toxicology
Frontage Laboratories
CRO & CDMO · GLP Toxicology, Safety Pharmacology, Toxicokinetics (TK)
Charles River Laboratories
CRO & CDMO · GLP Toxicology, Safety Pharmacology, Genetic Toxicology
What is QC & Release Testing and when do you need it?
QC and release testing is the analytical gate every batch has to pass before it can be dosed in a patient. A manufacturer makes drug substance or drug product, then a quality control lab runs the batch against an approved specification: a defined list of tests, methods, and acceptance criteria. Every result has to fall inside the limits, the batch record has to be reviewed, and a quality unit (in the EU, a Qualified Person) has to sign the release before the material can ship or go into a trial. No clean release, no dosing. That is the whole point of the workstream.
The release panel depends on the product, but the spine is consistent. Identity confirms the molecule is what the label says. Assay and potency confirm strength, whether that is an HPLC content assay for a small molecule or a cell-based bioassay for a biologic. Purity and impurities cover related substances, aggregates, residual solvents, host-cell protein and DNA, and process residuals. For sterile products you add the safety tests: sterility (USP <71> or EP equivalent), bacterial endotoxin (USP <85>, typically LAL), bioburden, and container-closure integrity. Appearance, pH, osmolality, particulate matter, and uniformity round out a typical drug-product spec.
You need release testing the moment material is made under GMP, which for most programs is the first clinical batch, and it never stops after that. The same discipline carries through Phase 1 supply, scale-up, registration batches, and routine commercial release, with the specification tightening and the methods getting formally validated as the program matures. Early development assays can run non-GMP, but anything that releases material for a human has to run under GMP with validated, often compendial, methods. Plan release testing as a recurring obligation, not a one-time event, because every campaign generates batches that each need their own certificate of analysis.
What does a QC & Release Testing CDMO actually do?
A release lab does more than run instruments. It develops or transfers the methods, validates them to ICH Q2 expectations, qualifies reference standards, runs the release panel under GMP, and issues a certificate of analysis the sponsor or its Qualified Person relies on to release the batch. Many of these suppliers are the analytical arm of a CDMO that also makes the material, but a large share of the market is standalone contract QC labs that test product made elsewhere, which is common when a sponsor wants an independent lab or a second site for redundancy.
Two pieces of the work decide whether a program runs smoothly, and both happen before any routine batch is tested. The first is method transfer: moving a validated method from your development lab or your drug-substance site into the release lab so it performs the same way in their hands, with a documented transfer protocol and acceptance criteria. The second is handling the result that falls outside the limit. A good lab runs a disciplined out-of-specification (OOS) investigation under a Phelps-style root-cause process, distinguishes a real failure from a lab error, and documents it so the conclusion holds up in an inspection. How a supplier handles an OOS tells you more about them than a clean run ever will.
- Identity and strength: HPLC or UPLC assay, mass spec, peptide mapping, cell-based or binding potency assays for biologics
- Purity and impurities: related substances, aggregates (SEC), charge variants, residual solvents (GC headspace), host-cell protein and residual DNA, elemental impurities (ICP-MS)
- Sterility and safety: sterility (USP <71> / EP 2.6.1), bacterial endotoxin (USP <85> LAL), bioburden, mycoplasma and adventitious agents for biologics
- Physical and container tests: appearance, pH, osmolality, sub-visible particulates, uniformity of dosage units, container-closure integrity (CCIT)
- Method work: method development, validation to ICH Q2, method transfer and verification, forced-degradation and specificity studies
- Quality deliverables: GMP certificate of analysis, OOS and OOT investigations, reference standard qualification, stability-indicating method support
How to choose a QC & Release Testing CDMO?
Two filters do most of the work: does the lab have the right GMP quality grade and inspection history for where you plan to file, and does it actually run your kind of method on your kind of product. A lab that releases small-molecule oral solids every day may be a poor fit for a cell-based potency assay or a viral-vector release panel. Match the assay menu and the modality first, then look at capacity, turnaround, and how the lab behaves when a result goes sideways. Sterility and endotoxin results in particular sit on the critical path to release, so a realistic turnaround on those tests, not the headline price, is often what determines when your batch ships.
Run a short checklist before you commit. The cost of choosing wrong here is not a bad quote, it is a held batch, a failed transfer, or a finding you cannot defend in an inspection.
- Quality and GxP status: confirm GMP certification, the inspection history, and which agencies (FDA, EMA, PMDA) have audited the site, since you need to cite this lab in a filing
- Capacity and lead time: ask for realistic turnaround on the rate-limiting tests (sterility runs 14 days, endotoxin and bioburden have their own queues) and whether they have an open slot for your batch schedule
- Modality and indication fit: confirm the lab runs your specific methods (cell-based potency, peptide mapping, AAV titer, residual testing) routinely, not as a stretch
- Region and regulatory track record: match the lab to where you will release and file, and check it can support Qualified Person release for EU supply if you need it
- Data quality and integrity: validated methods to ICH Q2, sound method-transfer protocols, a disciplined OOS process, and data-integrity controls that survive an audit
- IP and confidentiality: clear terms on your methods, specifications, and results, and confidentiality on a product or indication you may not want disclosed
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between QC release testing and stability testing?
Does QC and release testing have to be done under GMP?
How long does batch release testing take?
What happens when a release test result is out of specification (OOS)?
Can I use an independent lab to release product made at a different CDMO?
Who can release a batch for the clinic or market?
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