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Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) for Cell Culture |
Fetal bovine serum (FBS), also known as fetal calf serum, offers essential nutrients and growth factors for the maintenance and growth of cultured cells. Cell-based applications are an integral part of basic research, biochemical studies, vaccine development, and drug discovery to name a few. FBS is the most used serum in cell-based applications as it provides the most robust culture system for the widest range of cell types.
Since 1962, Gibco FBS products have been a global market leader. Through Thermo Fisher Scientific’s unwavering commitment to quality, scientists using Gibco FBS have been provided with consistent reliability, service, value, and innovation. Discover the performance differences that Gibco Fetal Bovine Serum can deliver for your research and production.
Learn more about the various market scenarios that drive FBS availability and price
Find the Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) solution for your application
We provide a simplified three-tiered offering—Gibco Value FBS, Premium FBS, and Premium Plus FBS—where each category is clearly delineated by relevant performance markers and testing levels to help ensure you can confidently select the right serum for your research.
Value FBS
Designed for consistent growth for robust cell lines used within all standard cell culture research applications. Our Value FBS products offer excellent value with up to 30 quality specification tests.
Premium FBS
Offers consistent growth for a broad range of cells. Our most popular FBS product providing high quality and exceptional value with up to 60 quality specification tests.
Premium Plus FBS
Offers consistent growth for sensitive cells. Our highest quality FBS with up to 70 quality specification tests, including lowest levels of endotoxin and hemoglobin release specifications.
Specialty FBS
Designed for specific experimental needs and sensitive cell culture, including stem cell research, cancer research, reporter assays, immunoassays, antibodies, and more.
Performance based on science, not geography
Specifications, not origin, help drive consistent performance. We commissioned an independent research group to survey more than 500 researchers around the globe. This is what we learned:
- Only 7% of FBS users believe that country of origin is the most important indicator of FBS quality.
- Almost 80% said they would purchase from categories that were clearly delineated by quality indicators (i.e., endotoxin, hemoglobin, growth performance, virus testing, etc.) that matter to their research.
Based on these findings, we transformed our Gibco FBS portfolio into categories focused on quality indicators rather than origin; Value FBS, Premium FBS, and Premium Plus FBS. Now you can easily select the best sera for your needs based on how they perform, not where they came from. This also enables us to minimize supply disruption since there is less reliance on origin.
The benefits of our performance-based categories
- Dependable supply—more supply through origin flexibility assists in minimizing supply disruption
- Performance consistency—more supply means more customer choice and more lots with the specifications they desire
- Product continuity—remove the hassle of updating protocols, which can be based on specifications, the true performance driver, and not part numbers
Explore our Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) quality control release criteria for Value FBS, Premium FBS, and Premium Plus FBS
| Quality profile | Value FBS | Premium FBS | Premium Plus FBS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endotoxin | ≤20 EU/mL | ≤10 EU/mL | ≤5 EU/mL |
| Haemoglobin/hemoglobin | ≤25 mg/dL | ≤25 mg/dL | ≤20 mg/dL |
| Sterility: bacterial and fungal testing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Osmolality | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| pH | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mycoplasma: supplemental testing (H-stain) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mycoplasma | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Country of origin | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Oritain™ testing (origin confirmation) | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Biochemical and hormonal profile | |||
| Biochemical: Alkaline phosphatase, ALT, AST, bicarbonate, bilirubin (total), BUN, BUN/creatinine ratio, calcium, chloride, cholesterol, creatinine, GGPT, glucose, HDL, iron, iron saturation, LDH, LDL, phosphorous (inorganic), potassium, sodium, TIBC, triglycerides (TG), uric acid | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hormonal: Estradiol, insulin, progesterone, testosterone, thyroxine (T4) | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Virus testing | |||
| Serology: BVDV serum neutralization titer (Ab) | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Serology: Anti-BVDV antibody test (EMA lots only) | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Virus (9CFR): Bluetongue Virus, Bovine Adenovirus, Bovine Parvovirus, Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus, Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV), Rabies Virus, Reo Virus Cytopathogenic Agents - Including Bovine Herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1/IBR) Haemadsorbing Agents - Including Bovine Parainfluenza Virus 3 (PI-3) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Virus (EMA): Bluetongue Virus, Bovine Adenovirus, Bovine Parvovirus, Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus, Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV), Rabies Virus, Reo Virus Cytopathogenic Agents- Including Bovine Herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1/IBR) Haemadsorbing Agents- Including Bovine Parainfluenza Virus 3 (PI-3) | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDA safety testing: Bluetongue virus (Mexican and Australian origin) | ✓ (Mexican only) | ✓ | ✓ (Australian only) |
| USDA safety testing: Akabane virus (Australian only) | – | ✓ | ✓ (Australian only) |
| Protein electrophoresis | |||
| Identification:Electrophoretic profile | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Identification: Bovine gamma globulin (≤500 mg/L) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Protein: Albumin, alpha globulin, beta globulin, total protein | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Performance testing | |||
| Relative growth promotion (RGP), relative cloning efficiency (RCE), relative plating efficiency (RPE) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Documentation | |||
| Certificate of Suitability (TSE CEP) | – | ✓ | ✓ |
Important to note that our FBS is sourced from BSE-negligible countries
Gibco Fetal Bovine Serum cross-reference tool
The Gibco Fetal Bovine Serum cross reference tool can be used to find a direct
replacement for other serum suppliers.
Discover heat-inactivated and One Shot fetal bovine serum (FBS)
Heat-inactivated FBS
Choose heat-inactivated FBS for immunological applications requiring the inactivation of complement proteins.
One Shot FBS
Choose One Shot FBS in convenient 50 mL bottles to end aliquoting and help minimize contamination risk.
Videos for Gibco Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)
Watch these videos to learn how FBS performance is based on science, not origin. Explore customer stories, FBS FAQs, how-to explanations, and product innovations.
Gibco FBS performance-based categories are based on science, not geographyChoosing the Right FBS: Why Science, Not Geography, Drives Performance and Reproducibility in Cell Culture Research.
Gibco iMatch Sera Lot Matching Tool TestimonialJoin Bay Vagher, a graduate student at the University of Vermont, shares her enthusiasm for the Gibco iMATCH Sera Lot Matching Tool.
What should you consider when selecting your FBS"Learn more and see why researchers worldwide recommend Gibco sera more than any other sera at thermofisher.com/fbs This video explains what specifications researchers consider when selecting their FBS. We surveyed over 500 cell culture researchers
The new Gibco™ One Shot™ FBS 50 mL bottle. Finally…Aliquot-free solution that reduces contamination.If you’re one of the more than 80% of researchers who aliquots their FBS into 50 mL conical tubes, your life is about to change for the better. Pour and pipette with the greatest of ease.
Why do FBS prices fluctuate constantlyWhy do FBS prices fluctuate constantly
Gibco One Shot FBS 50 mL bottle: Customer TestimonialLearn more at thermofisher.com/oneshot Hear what Dr. Christian is saying about the Gibco One Shot FBS 50 mL bottle. Saving time in the lab and reducing the risk of contamination with this aliquot-free solution is a great thing.
How can the Gibco One Shot 50 mL bottle reduce your lab's plastic waste by as much as 33%?Learn more at thermofisher.com/oneshot Our researchers discuss how a unique shaped bottle can help reduce plastic waste in lab. Not only that, it will remove the need to aliquot your serum.
Is there a way around the frustration of aliquoting many bottles of serum?Learn more at thermofisher.com/oneshot Two researchers from neighboring cell culture labs discuss the frustation of aliquoting many bottles of serum into 50 mL conical tubes.
Gibco One Shot FBS 50 mL bottle: How to properly aliquot and heat inactivate your FBSLearn more at thermofisher.com/oneshot. Let our scientist show you how to properly aliquot your FBS into 50 mL conical tubes as well as heat inactivate the FBS to ensure an optimal outcome.
Gibco® FBS - quality and value for basic cell cultureThe benefits of using Gibco® FBS for your cell culture research. Click here to learn more: lifetechnologies.com/fbs
Introduction to SerumSmart video seriesLearn more and see other SerumSmart videos at thermofisher.com/gibco. This video gives you an understanding of what to expect from our SerumSmart video series. We will cover all sorts of topics like myths and misconceptions of FBS/serum
Serum Smart: Where in the world is Grand Island, NY?In this episode of Serum Smart, learn about Grand Island, NY and it's important history, and impact to cell culture research.
Do FBS suppliers have their own cows?Explanation of dynamics in the FBS industry and how it's impacted by the meat-packing industry. Sera products are a byproduct of this industry, the number of cows being processed will determine the serum supply to researchers.
Gibco FBS — CollectionIn a world full of compromise, we refuse to cut corners. Our customers demand the best, so we take extraordinary measures in the collection of FBS. Find out what makes Gibco FBS the most trusted in the world.
Gibco FBS — ProcessWhen others cut corners, we refuse to be ordinary. We take steps in the processing of our FBS to help ensure our customers the highest quality product. Witness these extraordinary steps that enable extraordinary breakthroughs.
Gibco FBS — TrustA new era of quality is upon us. Unmatched innovation, reliability and traceability have arrived. See how we provide researchers the transparency and confidence they deserve from their FBS supplier.
Choose the best serum for your cells using the iMatch Sera Lot Matching Tool
Use the unique iMATCH Sera Lot Matching Tool to find your ideal FBS based on your performance priorities. Provide your previous Gibco FBS lot number or answer a few quick questions to identify the FBS you need. Stop testing and start matching!
Find your match
Why Gibco FBS is recommended by most scientists worldwide
Since its launch over 60 years ago, Gibco FBS has been a part of historical scientific breakthroughs, including cell line development, cloning, and gene editing. Gibco sera are the most cited in global scientific journals and are used and trusted by many top pharma companies. Furthermore, Gibco FBS is origin guaranteed through fingerprinting technology and is ISIA traceability certified.
Learn more about FBS fingerprinting and ISIA traceability certification
Extraordinary measures in Gibco FBS manufacturing
Extraordinary measures are taken during the manufacturing and production of Gibco FBS, with careful consideration taken in each step of the journey from farm to bench.
Other animal sera
Did you know there are lower-cost alternatives to fetal bovine serum? These products include bovine serum, horse serum, newborn calf serum, goat serum, rabbit serum, porcine serum, and chicken serum.
Sera for bioprocessing
Gibco sera for bioprocessing can support your cell culture needs as you scale up production. As one of the largest serum suppliers from BSE-negligible risk regions, Gibco serum can help meet biopharmaceutical manufacturing requirements.
Featured resources and product help for fetal bovine serum
Download the Gibco guide booklet
Learn more about how we’ve become a world leader for sera, media, and reagents.
Understand the basics of fetal bovine serum
Discover the important factors to consider in FBS selection and learn how scientists are utilizing the benefits of FBS in their research.
Contact an FBS representative
We have dedicated regional sales representatives to assist you in all things FBS. Connect directly with a FBS representative today!
Get your answers using the FBS FAQ database
Have questions about using FBS in your cell culture experiments? Find the answers you need in this extensive FAQ database.
Sustainable solutions
We are committed to delivering products that serve the research needs of our customers, while striving to develop them in a way that minimizes our use of natural resources and our impact on the environment.
Resources
Fetal Bovine Serum Basics
Learn the basics of FBS for cell culture, including information on the FBS uses, components, and the market dynamics driving this industry.
Cell Culture Basics
Learn the fundamentals of cell culture for achieving consistent results, including laboratory setup, safety, and aseptic techniques.
Gibco iMatch Sera Lot Matching Tool
Provide your previous Gibco FBS lot number or answer a few questions to find your ideal serum match.
Related products
Support
Find your regional sales representative
Connect with a regional FBS sales representative.
Cell Culture & Transfection Support Center
Find technical support recommendations for your cell culture and transfection workflows, including tips for experimental setup and in-depth troubleshooting help.
Need technical support?
Contact our expert team for technical and application support of laboratory products.
For Research Use or Further Manufacturing Use only. Serum and blood proteins are not for direct administration into humans or animals.
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