Fetal bovine serum main function and preservation method - Database & Sql Blog Articles

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Main Functions of Fetal Calf Serum:

1) Provides essential hormones that support cell growth and proliferation.

2) Acts as an acid-base buffer to maintain stable pH levels in the culture environment.

3) Supplies protease inhibitors that protect cells from damage during subculturing or passaging.

4) Offers critical factors that help cells adhere and spread on plastic surfaces, which is vital for in vitro cell culture.

5) Contains binding proteins that regulate the activity of vitamins, lipids, metals, and other hormones. These proteins also help neutralize toxic metals and pyrogens, enhancing serum safety.

Standard Parameters for Fetal Bovine Serum:

1) Endotoxin level: Should not exceed 5 EU/ml. Higher levels indicate contamination.

2) Total protein concentration: Typically ranges between 30–40 mg/ml.

3) Hemoglobin content: Should be below 20 mg/dl to ensure high quality and purity.

Types of Serum:

1) Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS): Derived from the blood of eight-month-old fetuses through heart puncture.

2) Newborn Calf Serum (NBCS): Collected from newborn calves within 12–24 hours after birth via venous blood collection.

3) Calf Serum (CS): Obtained from three-month-old calves through arterial blood collection.

Quality Grades and Sources:

Fetal bovine serum grades are ranked by quality, with New Zealand being the highest, followed by Australia, North America, and South America. The primary suppliers to the domestic market in China include South America and Australia.

Storage and Handling Instructions:

It is recommended to store fetal bovine serum at -20°C. If kept at 4°C, it should not be used for more than one month. For long-term storage, divide the serum into sterile containers and freeze to prevent repeated freezing and thawing, which can degrade the serum’s quality. When thawing, take the serum out of the freezer and place it in a refrigerator at 2–8°C to allow slow and even melting. During this process, gently shake the bottle periodically to ensure uniform mixing.