Which organization is responsible for compiling standards on medications and their quality?

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is the organization tasked with establishing and maintaining standards for medications, their quality, and their purity. USP sets the official standards for drugs and their ingredients in the United States, ensuring that they meet specific safety and efficacy requirements. This includes the development of monographs, which are detailed descriptions of drug substances, dosage forms, and dietary supplements, outlining their identity, strength, quality, and purity. By adhering to these standards, pharmacists and healthcare providers can ensure they are dispensing safe and effective medications.

In contrast, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) primarily oversees the regulation of drugs and medical devices, including their approval for public use, rather than forming the standards themselves. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focuses on public health and disease prevention rather than medication standards. Lastly, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducts and supports medical research but does not develop official quality standards for medications. Thus, the USP is uniquely positioned as the authority on medication standards, making it the correct choice in this context.