Fetal bovine serum (FBS), also known as fetal calf serum (FCS), is a commonly used cell culture media supplement. It supplies growth factors, hormones, vitamins, and other nutrients that can support the proliferation and viability of cells in culture. The range of these factors provided by FBS enables the culture of a wide variety of cell types that may have uncharacterized culture requirements. Heat inactivation of FBS destroys potentially detrimental complement proteins while retaining the growth-promoting properties of the serum. Specialty grades of FBS are optimized for the culture of particular cell types such as hybridomas, embryonic stem cells, tetracycline-controlled expression systems, and hormone dependent cells for insulin- and estrogen-related research. Manufacturers of FBS control product variability by managing the raw material supply chain, adhering to consistent processing protocols, and rigorous testing to ensure low endotoxin, hemoglobin, and virus load. USDA-approved testing of FBS is important to certify the virus and disease safety of the source before importing animal material into the United States. USDA APHIS certification enables the use of our US origin serum for the manufacture and export of products outside of the USA.
Fetal Bovine Serum - Embryonic Stem Cell Qualified
R&D Systems | Catalog # S10250
Key Product Details
Features
Key Benefits
- Utilizes our highest quality FBS
- Extended testing on mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells
- Screened for colony morphology, pluripotency, and plating efficiency
- Maintains mES cells in an undifferentiated state
- Low endotoxin and hemoglobin levels
- USDA-Approved FBS of Mexico/Central American origin
- Manufactured in our ISO 9001:2015 certified facility
- Formerly sold under the Atlanta Biologicals brand
Species
Applications
Product Summary for Fetal Bovine Serum - Embryonic Stem Cell Qualified
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.
Virus Testing - Fetal Bovine Serum – Embryonic Stem Cell Qualified undergoes testing for adventitious viruses, such as: 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
Osmolality
Sterility Testing
Additional Testing
Endotoxin - ≤ 50.0 EU/mL by Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) Assay
Hemoglobin - 25 mg/dL
Embryonic Stem Cell Culture - Plating efficacy, colony formation, and toxicity
Scientific Data Images for Fetal Bovine Serum - Embryonic Stem Cell Qualified
D3 Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Grown in FBS - ESC Qualified.
Representative brightfield image showing colony formation of D3 mouse embryonic stem cells cultured using FBS - Embryonic Stem Cell Qualified from R&D Systems for 4 passages.Embryonic Stem Cell Qualified FBS Performance Compared to Alternative Supplier.
Three mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines (D3, V6.5, and E14) were cultured for 4 passages in media supplement with 15% FBS from either R&D Systems or an alternative commercial supplier. A) Representative brightfield images of D3 mouse ESC colonies cultured in R&D Systems FBS or Supplier A. Normal colony formation was observed for both serum conditions. B) Quantitative analysis of ESC expansion following 4 passages indicates R&D Systems FBS performs similar to an alternative supplier of FBS.Formulation, Preparation, and Storage
Purification
Shipping
Storage
Background: Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)
Product Documents for Fetal Bovine Serum - Embryonic Stem Cell Qualified
Certificate of Analysis
To download a Certificate of Analysis, please enter a lot or batch number in the search box below.
Note: Certificate of Analysis not available for kit components.
Citations for Fetal Bovine Serum - Embryonic Stem Cell Qualified
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Protocols
Find general support by application which include: protocols, troubleshooting, illustrated assays, videos and webinars.
- A Guide to the Colony Forming Cell Assay: Methods and Tips
- Cultrex UltiMatrix BME Protocol
- Culture of Mouse Enteric Organoids using Cultrex Basement Membrane Extract
- Culturing BG01V Human Embryonic Stem Cells with Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast (MEF)-Conditioned Media
- Culturing Mouse Cortical Stem Cells: Expansion using the Neurosphere System
- Culturing Rat Cortical Stem Cells: Expansion using the Monolayer System
- Culturing Rat Cortical Stem Cells: Expansion using the Neurosphere System
- Definitive Endoderm Differentiation of BG01V Human Embryonic Stem Cells
- General Support Buffers
- Immunofluorescence of Organoids Embedded in Cultrex Basement Membrane Extract
- Protocol for CEPT Cocktail Kit
- Protocol for Cell Counting Kit-8
- Protocol for Culturing Embryonic Chick Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons
- Protocol for Culturing Embryonic Rat Spinal Motor Neurons
- Protocol for Culturing Rat Hippocampal Neurons
- Protocol for Culturing Rat Microglia
- Protocol for MortaLIVE™ Non-Toxic Dye
- Protocol for the Differentiation and Characterization of Human Th1 Cells
- Rat Cortical Stem Cell Culture Expansion Protocol
- The Human Colony Forming Cell (CFC) Assay using Methylcellulose-based Media
- The Mouse Colony Forming Cell (CFC) Assay using Methylcellulose-based Media
- The Mouse Pre-B Colony Forming Cell (CFC) Assay Using Methylcellulose-based Media
- Use of Cultrex Basement Membrane Extract to Improve Take and Growth of Xenografts in Mice
- View all Protocols, Troubleshooting, Illustrated assays and Webinars
FAQs for Fetal Bovine Serum - Embryonic Stem Cell Qualified
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Q: Should I use heat inactivated fetal bovine serum?
A: 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.
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Q: What is the difference between Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and Fetal Calf Serum (FCS)?
A: 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.
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Q: Should I use heat inactivated fetal bovine serum?
A: 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.
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Q: What is the difference between Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and Fetal Calf Serum (FCS)?
A: 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.