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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.

Products

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

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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
See all FBS Classic Products
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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
See all FBS Premier Products
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
See all FBS Select Products


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

Related Resources

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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 for Cell Culture
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 for Cell Culture
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
Choose from a range of optimized cell culture media formulations, including DMEM, RPMI-1640, and serum-free options for diverse cellular needs.
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
Next-gen Stericup® Quick Release: upgraded design enhances usability, streamlines filtration, safeguards cell cultures with Millipore® membranes.
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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 Techniques
Cultivate mammalian primary cells for ADME/Tox screening, maintaining physiological relevance for accurate results.
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
Explore scaffold and scaffold-free methods for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture, 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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