What is the difference between Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and Fetal Calf Serum (FCS)?

There is no difference. These are different names for the same product. Serum derived from blood of bovine fetuses is referred to as Fetal Bovine Serum or Fetal Calf Serum.

Should I use heat inactivated fetal bovine serum?

Heat inactivation, in general, decreases the growth promoting properties of the serum and causes increased formation of crystalline or flocculent precipitates (salts, proteins, lipids, fibrin, etc.) in the Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) as well as in other serum products. In fact, for many cell culture applications, heat inactivation may be unnecessary. Warming the serum-containing medium to 37˚C prior to use, as is the practice in many cell culture laboratories, is often sufficient to inactivate heat-labile complement factors. Heat inactivated FBS is frequently used in immunological applications.Since every cell type has different growth requirements, the choice of whether to heat inactivate your serum or not must be made by the researcher. If you have concerns about whether to use heat inactivated serum with your cell line or not, perform a side-by-side comparison of cell growth with heat inactivated versus non-heat inactivated serum.For your convenience, R&D Systems offers all serum with or without heat-inactivation.

Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select Best Seller

Name: Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select
Brand: R&D Systems
SKU: S11550
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

R&D Systems, part of Bio-Techne | Catalog # S11550

(2)

Citations (39)

Product Datasheet / COA / SDS

This item is in process of being discontinued.

Please Note: An additional $10/bottle handling fee will be applied for 500 mL bottles.

Key Product Details

Features:	Fetal Bovine Serum – Premium Select is the highest FBS grade available. It is lowest in endotoxin and hemoglobin, and is suitable even for the most demanding and sensitive cell lines. Premium Select grade FBS is also commonly used when a hormone profile, an extensive biochemical profile and/or an extended virus test panel is required.
Key Benefits:	Highest-grade FBS from R&D Systems Ideal for sensitive or specialized cell lines High lot-to-lot consistency Lowest in endotoxin and hemoglobin levels Extensive biochemical, hormone, and virus testing Manufactured from USA-origin or USDA-approved Manufactured in our ISO 9001:2015 certified facility Formerly sold under the Atlanta Biologicals brand

Technical Data
Citations / Reviews (2) / FAQs

Summary for Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select

Why Use Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select?

Fetal Bovine Serum, also known as Fetal Calf Serum (FCS), is a critical supplement added to cell culture medium to maintain cell health and promote expansion. Different grades of FBS are available from R&D Systems that address the value and premium needs of research.

All lots of Fetal Bovine Serum – Premium Select are sterility, virus, and performance tested, and include a biochemical profile. In addition, a hormone analysis is performed. Lots are manufactured from USA origin or USDA-approved origin material following stringent manufacturing and quality control procedures. All lots of FBS - Premium Select are manufactured in our ISO 9001:2015 certified facility.

Fetal Bovine Serum and other serum products should be stored and handled correctly to assure long-term stability and to preserve growth performance consistency throughout its shelf-life. In addition, heat inactivation of serum is frequently desired to inactivate complement within the serum. Below are protocol links for serum storage/handling and heat inactivation.

Protocol for Fetal Bovine Serum Storage, Thawing, and Freezing.
Protocol for Heat Inactivation of Serum Products.

Collection, Processing, and Testing of R&D Systems FBS

Collection and Processing - R&D Systems FBS is manufactured under a process that meets USDA requirements for animal products and ensures the product is traceable back to the date and location of collection. Our FBS manufacturing adheres to closed-system collection, processing in positive pressure, HEPA-filtered clean rooms, and triple 0.1 um filtration to remove contaminants. Strict control of the process from collection through processing enables us to provide a stable, consistent performing, and traceable supply of quality serum throughout global fluctuations in serum availability and regulatory requirements.

Virus Testing - Fetal Bovine Serum – Premium Select undergoes extended testing for adventitious viruses, including: Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus (IBRV), Parainfluenza-3 Virus (PI-3V), Bluetongue Virus (BTV), Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV), Bovine Parvovirus (BPV), Bovine Adenovirus, Type 3 (BAV-3), Bovine Adenovirus, Type 5 (BAV-5), Reo virus, and Rabies virus.

Biochemical Testing - R&D Systems FBS undergo biochemical profiling including total protein, albumin, globulin, IgG, total bilirubin, glucose, iron, cholesterol, triglycerides, sodium and potassium. View the product insert for a complete list of biochemical profiling components, which may vary between grades.

Chemical Analysis - Each lot of FBS is tested for osmolality, pH, hemoglobin, endotoxin (LAL method) and microbiological contamination (using methods recommended by the U.S. Pharmacopeia).

Product Specifications for Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select

Species	Bovine
Applications	Cell Culture
Formulation	Liquid
Purification	Triple 0.1 μm filtered
Osmolality	280 -335 mOsm
Sterility Testing	Pass
Cell Culture Testing	Pass
Biochemical Test Panel	Extended
Viral Testing	Extended
Additional Testing	pH - 6.8-7.8 Endotoxin - ≤ 15.0 EU/mL by Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) Assay Hemoglobin - 15 mg/dL Hormone Profile - Insulin, Progesterone, Testosterone, Thyroxine (T4)

Scientific Data Examples for Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select

	Premium Select FBS Performs Consistently Across Lots and Performance Assays. Quality control data for Premium Select FBS shows high levels of performance consistency. (A) Plating efficiency of cells cultured in media containing 5% or 10% Premium FBS, relative to control lots of FBS. (B) Premium Select FBS is formulated to consistently support hybridoma cloning and is qualified for consistent and healthy expansion of adherent and suspension cell culture lines. In addition to its extended hormonal and biochemical profiling, lots of Premium Select FBS show consistent and high percentage cloning efficiency and cell viability.
	Expansion of Human Umbilical Cord Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) using Premium Select FBS. HUVECs were expanded for 11 passages in media containing Premium Select FBS or an alternate supplier of FBS. (A) HUVEC expansion was consistent over 11 passages and comparable to Supplier #1. (B) Representative images of HUVECs after 9 passages in culture.

Preparation & Storage

Shipping Conditions	On Dry Ice
Storage	-5 to -20 °C

Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select Best Seller

R&D Systems, part of Bio-Techne | Catalog # S11550

Key Product Details

Summary for Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select

Why Use Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select?

Collection, Processing, and Testing of R&D Systems FBS

Product Specifications for Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select

Scientific Data Examples for Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select

Preparation & Storage

FAQs for Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select

Product Documents for Fetal Bovine Serum - Premium Select

Product Datasheets

COA

Certificate of Analysis

SDS

CONTACT INFORMATION

Stay Connected