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FBS - Fetal Bovine Serum & Fetal Calf Serum

FBS Premier is the highest grade of fetal bovine serum

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is the most widely-used growth supplement for cell culture media because of its high content of embryonic growth-promoting factors. When used at appropriate concentrations, it supplies many defined and undefined components that have been shown to satisfy specific metabolic requirements for the culture of cells. FBS is a complex mixture of biomolecules that includes growth factors, proteins, trace elements, vitamins, and hormones. These are important for the growth and maintenance of cells in vivo and in culture.

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Product Number
Product Name
Product Description
Pricing
12103C
Fetal Bovine Serum
USA origin, suitable for cell culture
ES009-M
Fetal Bovine Serum
US Origin, EmbryoMax ES Cell Qualified FBS, sterile-filtered, suitable for stem cell culture
12106C
Fetal Bovine Serum
USA origin, Heat Inactivated, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture
12003C
Fetal Bovine Serum
Australia origin, USDA approved, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture
TMS-016
Fetal Bovine Serum
US Origin, HL-1 Cell Screened FBS, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture
TMS-013
Fetal Bovine Serum
US Origin, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture
ES-020-B
Fetal Bovine Serum
US Origin, Mesenchymal Stem Cell Qualified FBS, sterile-filtered, suitable for stem cell culture
F8318
Fetal Bovine Serum
Australia origin, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture, suitable for hybridoma
F8687
Fetal Bovine Serum
Australia origin, γ-irradiated, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture, suitable for hybridoma
B7446
Bovine Calf Serum
Australia origin, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture, suitable for hybridoma
B7447
Bovine Calf Serum
Australia origin, γ-irradiated, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture, suitable for hybridoma
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Our FBS selection categories make it easy to choose an FBS product suitable for any cell culture application need, based on relevant parameters:

  • testing for the absence of specific contaminants
  • γ-irradiated and nonirradiated serum
  • geographic origin
  • suitability for hybridoma culture
  • unfiltered or sterile-filtered
  • need for heat-inactivation

Many of our cell culture media and reagents are equivalent or direct replacement products for sera from Life Technologies or Invitrogen Gibco.

FBS Classic

FBS Classic

FBS products that are suitable for general cell culture applications are collected in the FBS Classic portfolio. These products include serum products that have the following attributes:

  • Must pass rigorous testing of up to 48 defined quality release parameters, including endotoxin, hemoglobin, and common contaminants (bacterial, viral, and mycoplasma)
  • Dialyzed
  • Charcoal-stripped
  • 0.1 μm triple-filtered
  • USA, USDA, Canada, Australia, and other origin
See all FBS Classic Products
FBS Premier

FBS Premier

For labs that perform cell culture as part of their biomanufacturing process, or otherwise need to document reduced risk and testing for specific contaminants, FBS provenance and attributes are critical. FBS Premier products meet international standards with enhanced certification, are tested for the absence of key viral contaminants, and are supplied with enhanced documentation of sourcing, contaminant testing, and validation. Some products are validated by the SER-TAIN™ process to be free of defined contaminants.

FBS Premier products are critical for labs that must document specific contaminant testing at every stage of their process but provide reassurance for any lab wishing to reduce risk and enhance documentation of cell culture supplementation.

  • Stringent testing and release procedures based on internationally recognized standards
  • Must pass rigorous testing of up to 56 defined quality release parameters, including endotoxin, hemoglobin, and common contaminants (bacterial, viral, and mycoplasma)
  • Intended Use: For Research or Further Manufacturing
  • USA, USDA, Australia, and New Zealand origin
See all FBS Premier Products
FBS Select

FBS Select

Products designated FBS Select meet standards for specialized cell and tissue culture including supplementation of stem cells, cardiomyocytes, and cells cultured for the development of immunotherapeutics. FBS Select products include sera that are:

  • EmbryoMax® ES (embryonic stem) cell-qualified
  • Mesenchymal stem cell-qualified
  • HL-1 cell-screened
  • Ultra-low IgG
  • Dialyzed by ultrafiltration
  • FBS Superior, EU approved
See all FBS Select Products

Related Product Resources

Article: Serum for Cell and Tissue Culture FAQs
Technical Bulletin: Quality Control Sterility Testing of Serum Products
Technical Bulletin: Organisms Inactivated by Gamma Irradiation at 25—35 kGy
Technical Bulletin: Using PCR to Detect Viral Agents in Animal Sera
Technical Bulletin: Storing and Thawing Serum
Technical Bulletin: Microbe Selection for the SER- TAIN™ Process Validation

Product Information: Preparation of Charcoal-Stripped and Heat-Inactivated Fetal Calf Serum
Article: HL-1 Cells
Article: Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Culture Procedures & Protocols
Article: Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture Protocols
Article: Cryopreservation of Cell Lines
Article: Thawing of Frozen Cell Lines

Related Product Categories
Sera
Origin-certified, quality-controlled cell culture sera include FBS, other bovine sera, human serum, and sera from diverse animal species, rigorously screened for contaminants and performance-tested in culture.
Human Serum
Human serum is used to culture human cells and is available as plasma-derived AB human serum, clotted whole blood AB human serum, heat inactivated preparations, and complement-depleted preparations.
(Other) Sera
Although FBS is the most common serum variety used for cell culture, adult and newborn bovine serum and sera from other species are alternatives for cell culture supplementation.
Classical Media & Buffers
Cell culture media formulations have been optimized over decades of research in response to diverse cellular physiology. Select media such as DMEM, MEM, RPMI-1640, Ham’s F-10 & F-12 formulations, as well as serum-free solutions such as M199.
Supplements for Cell Culture
Cell culture supplements enable the customization of media with defined characteristics to support specific applications and serum-free culture needs. Our culture-grade supplements include ITS formulations, amino acids, vitamins, antibiotics, and reagents qualified for hybridoma and insect cell culture.
Mammalian Cell Lines
Cell lines from human and other mammalian species are essential for modeling disease and biological systems, and are critical tools for protein, antibody, virus, and vaccine production. We offer authenticated, contaminant-free cell lines, many in partnership with ECACC.
Primary Cells
Primary cells are derived directly from living tissue and closely replicate the physiology of biological systems. Our collection includes blood, patient tumor xenografts, and hepatocytes essential for drug screening and ADME/Tox studies.
Stericup® Vacuum Filters
Essential Stericup® and sustainable Stericup® E filters are integral devices for filtering media to protect cell cultures. Choose from membranes and pore sizes for fast flow, low protein binding, mycoplasma exclusion, and plastic waste reduction.
Related Applications
Mammalian Cell Culture
Applications, principles, and methods for in vitro mammalian cell culture including links to articles, protocols, and videos for proper aseptic technique, passaging and subculturing, and culture media considerations.
Primary Cell Culture
Primary cells isolated directly from human and animal sources maintain physiological relevance of the tissues from which they are derived, and are used for ADME/Tox screening. Find applications and methods for culturing mammalian primary cells in vitro.
Stem Cell Culture
An overview of different stem cell types, stem cell culture basics and stem cell applications in basic research and clinical research applications, such as tissue regeneration, genetic diseases and cancer.
3D Cell Culture
Applications, principles, and techniques for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture. Includes techniques and descriptions of scaffold and scaffold-free methods matrices for the culture of complex in vitro models including organoids and spheroids.
Cell Culture Media Preparation
Culture media preparation for in vitro cell cultivation including preparation of different media formats, sterilization methods, cell growth and regulation supplements, media storage and use.
Cell Growth & Maintenance
A synopsis of the conditions, media, nutrients, cultureware, and environments required for successful propagation of mammalian and yeast cells. Nutrient reagents, sterile technique and filtration, and requirements for 2D, 3D, and suspension cultures are described.
Cell Culture Troubleshooting
Expert tips for correcting common problems with cell culture including bacterial and fungal contamination, debris in culture media, cell detachment or clumping, slow growth, and low viability.
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