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FBS - Fetal Bovine Serum & Fetal Calf Serum

Grey tissue culture hood containing a black handheld cell counter, a square media bottles filled with red fluid, and a cylindrical media bottle filled halfway with red fluid in the foreground. In the middle of the tissue culture hood is a pink tube holder with three clear tubes, a six well clear plate with three wells filled with red media, and two T flasks halfway filled with red fluid. In the background, a white pipette gun, two square media bottles filled with red or clear fluid, and a vortexer. To the left, a male scientist in a white coat walks by.

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is the most widely-used growth supplement for cell culture media. 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 that are important for the growth and maintenance of cells in vitro culture.

Our FBS selection categories make it easy to choose an FBS product suitable for any cell culture application, based on relevant parameters such as γ-irradiation, geographic origin, suitability for hybridoma or insect culture, need for heat-inactivation, or special application testing.


If you are using FBS, media, or reagents from Gibco or Life Technologies/Invitrogen, click here to find our replacement product number.


Purple tear drop with a white check mark in it and the word classic below it

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 and hemoglobin
  • Dialyzed
  • Charcoal-stripped
  • 0.1 μm triple-filtered
  • USA, USDA, Canada, Australia, and other origin
Purple tear drop with a white crown in it and the word premier below it


FBS Premier

For customers using FBS in a biomanufacturing process. Products are manufactured using select raw materials at specialist facilities, frequently employing Single Use Disposal technologies.

FBS Premier products are supported by enhanced levels of documentation, including EDQM Certificates of Suitability. They are also QC tested and released to enhanced levels, especially after being Gamma Irradiated using our validated SER-TAIN process.

  • Stringent testing and release procedures based on internationally recognized regulatory guidelines
  • Intended Use: For Research or Further Manufacturing
  • USA, Australia, and New Zealand origin
Blue tear drop with a white star in it and the word select below it


FBS Select

Products designated FBS Select are pre-qualified 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


To learn more about how our FBS will work in your application, click here to request a sample.


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