FAQ

Serum is the liquid component extracted from clotted whole blood after centrifugation. It is obtained from the blood of the fetal calf, collected aseptically within the slaughterhouse. Fetal Bovine Serum is a widely used and necessary product for the culture of many cell lines, as it provides numerous nutrients and allows cells to proliferate in vitro. Fetal Bovine blood is only collected in the absence of vital signs from the fetus

There is a wide range of applications for Fetal Bovine Serum. The most important is in the field of biopharmaceutical products and vaccines. It is used in the research, manufacturing, and control of human and veterinary vaccines and medicines, many of which are at the forefront of development.

Fetal Bovine Serum is also widely used in research.

Serum-free alternatives exist. Since each cell type has different requirements, their use can be complex and costly.

In order to select a high-performing FBS for stem cell culture, Frigo recommends testing different lots on your cell lines. Frigo offers qualified FBS lots for stem cell culture.

Fetal Bovine Serum is obtained from the clotted and centrifuged blood of the fetal calf, collected aseptically within the slaughterhouse. Fetal blood is collected from the fetuses of pregnant cows, slaughtered in accordance with the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) directives and internationally recognized veterinary inspection standards. Fetal Bovine blood is only collected in the absence of vital signs from the fetus

The origin of the serum has no influence on cell growth. Frigo compared cell growth in FBS from seven different countries across three continents, and confirmed that, regardless of the country of origin, all cell lines tested had the same average performance.

An FBS lot may give good results for a specific cell line, but not for another. The “serum quality” is specific to each cell line. This is why FBS testing is widely used when dealing with sensitive cell lines. Frigo performs the most comprehensive analysis of biochemical parameters and tests on the sector’s cell lines, and makes the results available on the certificates of analysis.

It is a question of FBS importation, which is less restricted in Europe than in the United States. The International Serum Industry Association (ISIA) supports efforts to harmonize import rules, thus suggesting compliance with OIE recommendations. In the meantime, FBS in the United States remains more than twice as expensive as in Europe.

The demand for FBS is increasing in parallel with the latest research developments, particularly stem cells, cell therapy, new vaccines, and proteomics.

The demand for FBS is increasing in parallel with the latest research developments, particularly stem cells, cell therapy, new vaccines, and proteomics.