Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is the most frequently used growth supplement for cell culture media. High levels of embryonic growth promoting factors improve various cell culture applications.

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) or fetal calf serum (FCS) is widely used in eukaryotic cell culture, typically as a supplement for growth media. Fetal bovine serum contains nutritional and embryonic growth promoting factors that are essential for a successful cell culture. Further, fetal bovine serum contains various small molecules, such as, e.g., amino acids, lipids, sugars, and hormones.

General Information

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is the blood component obtained after coagulation and removal of cellular components. Its unique and comprehensive mix makes FBS one of the most important supplements for supporting cell growth and proliferation for in vitro cell culture.

Our fetal bovine serum for cell culture supports most cell lines and undergoes strict quality controls. This product is collected in USA.

Additional Optional Treatments

Heat inactivation

Heat inactivation will inactivate the complement system, antibodies and other active enzymes. It has to be done in a carefully controlled process in order to avoid damaging the cell growth promoting properties of the serum and reducing the formation of unwanted precipitates. The process involves heating the serum in a shaking water bath at exactly +56°C for 30 minutes. The shaking will help avoid the formation of protein and other forms of precipitates. After 30 minutes the serum is cooled back down to room temperature as quickly as possible to avoid excessive exposure to heat which can damage e.g. growth factors and vitamins

Gamma irradiation

Capricorn Scientific has established process parameters and controls for maximum inactivation of contaminants by an innovative gamma irradiation process in small sized boxes at 25 – 35kGy. When FBS bottles are arranged in a pallet during gamma irradiation, high irradiation doses (58 kGy) are necessary to irradiate the centrally located bottles with the required does (>30 kGy). This and the associated higher temperatures may affect the serum quality. If the irradiation is performed in single boxes, the maximum dose of irradiation does not exceed 38.7 kGy. Gentle irradiation as used by Capricorn Scientific is less likely to affect final serum quality.

Quality Control

Only sera batches which pass our strict quality control are released for sale. Standard parameters which are determined include pH, osmolality, content of protein, albumin, IgG and hemoglobin, endotoxin level, sterility, mycoplasma detection and virus testing.