Iron-Supplemented Calf Serum

Iron-Supplemented Calf Serum (ISCS) is produced from serum of 2 weeks to 12 months old formula fed calves and is supplemented with iron. Formula fed calf serum has exceptionally high levels of transferrin, and therefore the capacity to bind higher levels of iron. After supplementation with a ferric salt, Iron-Supplemented Calf Serum contains up to four times as much available iron and transferrin as Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). It can produce growth curves comparable to that of FBS in many cell culture systems. Proliferating cells require iron for bioenergetics and oxidation-reduction catalysis, including activation of oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen. Iron-Supplemented Calf Serum supports long-term growth of many cell types such as fibroblast-like, epithelial-like and lymphoid cell populations.

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.