Comparison
Manual FDA checks vs watchlist alerts.
Manual FDA shortage checks are free and official, but they still depend on a person remembering to search, compare, copy, and notify. Watchlist alerts keep the public-source check scheduled and source-linked.
Manual FDA checks
FormularySignal watchlist alerts
Someone searches the FDA database or saved pages.
Public FDA/openFDA records are checked on schedule.
Someone compares records with a spreadsheet or memory.
Records are matched against submitted organization-level watch terms.
Someone forwards links or updates internal notes.
Signal Cards arrive with timestamps, source links, and export formats.
The audit trail depends on manual habits.
The report preserves the run timestamp and source trail for internal review.
Boundary
FormularySignal does not replace official FDA verification. Public records can change, local availability may differ, and the service is not FDA-affiliated. It is not medical, clinical, substitution, procurement, inventory, compounding, dispensing, purchasing, sourcing, or legal advice.