FAQ

Serum, due to its rich composition of proteins, oligo-elements, and growth factors, provides all the necessary nutrients and components for the survival, proliferation, and growth of cells.

FRIGO guarantees a high level of quality, traceability, and biosecurity, notably through an ISO 9001 certification obtained in 2006 and revalidated every 3 years by an accredited body, comprehensive documentation, and supplier audits involved throughout the entire production process.

Serum is thawed at +2°C/+8°C to prevent any degradation of mitogenic factors. It can also be thawed at room temperature by periodically shaking to resuspend the contents. Temperatures above 37°C can compromise the serum’s performance by accelerating the degradation of critical serum factors, and should be avoided in the laboratory. Thawed serum must be carefully mixed before being added to the cell culture medium.

After thawing the serum, precipitates and turbidity may appear. These are fibrin precipitates.
If the serum is incubated at 37°C for a prolonged period, calcium phosphate precipitates may appear, in addition to those of fibrin.
In both cases, to our knowledge, this does not alter the performance of the serum in cell culture.

Serum is heat-inactivated by the action of heat. This allows for the inactivation of complement factors present in the serum. During heat inactivation, the product temperature is monitored using a control vial, in addition to the vial intended for cell culture. The vials are thawed at +2°C/+8°C, then placed in a water bath at +80°C. When the temperature of the control vial reaches +50°C, set the water bath thermostat to +70°C.
Then, when the vial temperature reaches +55°C, lower the thermostat to +60°C. When the temperature of the control vial is at +56°C, set the thermostat to +56°C and allow to incubate for 30 minutes. Stir the vial to be heat-inactivated every 5 to 10 minutes. Check the temperature regularly. Maintain the temperature at +56°C by adjusting the thermostat, adding cold water, or using the lid. After incubation, allow the serum to cool to room temperature for 30 minutes, then freeze it at -20°C.

Note: Agitation is crucial for the good quality of the serum. If the serum is not properly mixed, a precipitate of salts, proteins, and lipids will appear, which can give the serum a gelled appearance. These deposits are not toxic to cell culture but affect the serum’s appearance and consistency. Incubating the serum at +56°C for more than 30 minutes can deteriorate serum growth factors, thereby decreasing the serum’s performance.

Serum can be stored between +2°C/+8°C for up to 8 weeks without its performance being diminished (*).

(*) Art to Science, Vol.19, No.2, “Serum Stability at Refrigerated Temperatures (2-8C)

Serum should be stored frozen at -20°C (-10°C/-40°C) and protected from light. If stored at temperatures below -40°C, the vials can become fragile, increasing the risk of breakage.

High-quality serum can come from any country, provided it is collected, imported, and processed in compliance with all applicable regulatory and industrial requirements. No continent or country producing FBS has an inherent advantage, in terms of quality, compared to other origins.