Fetal Bovine Serum Alternative
What is FBS?
Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), also known as Fetal Calf Serum, is a biological fluid derived from the blood of bovine fetuses. It’s a crucial component in the culture of many cell types, particularly mammalian cells, in research, analytics, and diagnostic laboratories.
FBS contains a wide range of essential nutrients, including amino acids, vitamins, hormones, and growth factors that are vital for supporting cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. While many components of FBS are known, its complexity and the presence of undefined factors make it a valuable supplement for cell culture and often play crucial roles in specific cell types or experimental conditions.
Why is an Alternative Needed
The search for alternatives to Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is primarily driven by ethical and practical concerns.
Concerns
Disease transmission:
FBS can potentially be contaminated with viruses or other pathogens, posing a risk to laboratory research and potentially to human health.
Batch-to-batch variability:
FBS can vary significantly in its composition and biological activity between batches, making it challenging to maintain consistent experimental conditions.
Cost:
FBS can be both variable and expensive, thus impacting the cost of manufacturing biopharmaceuticals and of doing basic research.
Availability:
FBS availability is dependent on many variables including the weather.
There is a growing interest in developing alternative products for cell culture media. New Life Biologics has introduced two alternatives that not only addresses these concerns but also offer improved performance.
Proven, highly effective replacements for Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) derived from Adult Bovine Plasma. Cell Growth Promotors 1 and 2 (CGP1 and CGP2) are the result of years of research to find an alternative that’s safe and sustainable.
CGP1 & CGP2 | Cell Growth Promotors
Proven, highly effective alternatives to Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) utilizing advanced Adult Bovine Plasma, CGP1, and CGP2 are the result of years of research to find alternatives that are safe and sustainable.
CGP1
CGP2
Advantages over Fetal Bovine Serum
Our Cell Growth Process Products offer significant advantages in most cell culture applications.
Lower Cost:
CGP Pro 1 and 2 are less expensive than FBS, making them a more economical option.
Reduced Risk of Contamination:
CGP Pro 1 and 2 offer a lower risk of contamination with viruses or other pathogens, due to the viracidal steps in their production.
Reduced Levels of Growth Factors and Hormones:
CGP Pro 1 and 2 contains lower levels of growth factors and hormones compared to FBS. This can be beneficial for certain cell types or experiments where a more defined culture environment is desired.
Suitability for Specific Cell Types:
Some cell types may grow better or exhibit specific phenotypes in CGP Pro 1 and 2 compared to FBS.
Advantages of Powder over Liquid
Powdered CGP Pro 1 and 2 offer several advantages over liquid FBS, especially for storage and transportation including:
Shelf Life and Stability:
Powdered product has a long shelf life and is more stable during storage compared to liquid serum.
Portability:
Powdered product is lighter and more compact, making it easier to transport and store.
Reduced Risk of Contamination:
Powdered product can be less susceptible to microbial contamination during storage and transportation, as it has a lower water content.
Cost-Effectiveness:
Powdered product can be more cost-effective in some cases, especially when considering the cost of shipping and storage for liquid serum.
Cell Culture Adaption to New Media
Cell culture adaptation refers to the process by which cells adjust their physiology and metabolism to survive and proliferate in a new environment, often involving a change in culture medium. This is particularly relevant when transitioning from a medium containing fetal bovine serum (FBS) to an alternative medium.
Why Adapt to New Media?
Reduced Risk of Contamination:
FBS can introduce contaminants, such as viruses or mycoplasma, into cell cultures. CGP 1 and 2 help to eliminate this risk.
Improved Reproducibility:
CGP 1 and 2 provide a more controlled environment, leading to more consistent and reproducible results. Additionally, CGP 1 and 2 offer more consistent batch-to-batch quality improving the experimental conditions and results.
Enhanced Characterization:
FBS alternatives create conditions that can better facilitate the study of cell-specific responses and interactions.
Considerations:
The extraction of FBS from fetal calves raises ethical concerns regarding animal welfare.
Reduced Costs:
FBS can be expensive, particularly for large-scale cell culture applications. CGP 1 and 2 offer a lower cost compared to FBS products.
FBS FAQs
Lab researchers often are unsure with the decision to switch from FBS to alternative media. Here are some common questions they ask and how New Life Biologics addresses their questions.
The primary concern is the slaughter of pregnant cows to obtain fetal blood. This practice raises animal treatment issues and concerns about the sustainability of such a resource.
FBS can be contaminated with viruses, mycoplasma, or other pathogens. These contaminants can negatively impact cell culture experiments and lead to unreliable results.
Gradual acclimation is typically recommended. Start by reducing the FBS concentration in your media.
Monitor cell growth, viability, and differentiation markers. Compare the results obtained with FBS replacements o those obtained with FBS.
