Fetal bovine serum is derived from the blood of fetal calves and contains the nutritional and macromolecular growth factors that are essential for the growth and maintenance of cultured cells.

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) and fetal calf serum (FCS) are used to describe the same product and are interchangeable, although the use of FBS is more common. Bovine calf serum (BCS) has notably different characteristics than fetal bovine serum and is derived from calves post-birth, ranging from birth to 36 months. BCS typically has lower levels of growth factors and higher levels of proteins and antibodies than FBS.

Yes. For more information: https://www.genengnews.com/insights/high-quality-fbs-may-come-from-any-authorized-country-of-origin/

If maintained in proper storage conditions, FBS has a 5-year shelf life from the date of processing. Please refer to the Certificate of Analysis or bottle label for information on a specific lot.

We recommend thawing serum overnight at 2-8°C.

Serum should be used within 2-4 weeks when stored at 2-8°C.

Yes. Many researchers will aliquot serum into smaller volumes and refreeze until needed.

We take every precaution to ensure FBS arrives frozen. If your FBS arrives partially thawed and is at least two-thirds frozen, it can be refrozen and used with confidence.

Please carefully inspect all FBS shipments for problems, damages and discrepancies immediately upon arrival. Any issues must be reported to Genesee Scientific within two business days of receipt to be eligible for a credit or replacement. Failure to notify Genesee Scientific in this time frame with details and photographic evidence will result in your acceptance of the product. If a return or credit is granted, prior written authorization must accompany all returns and credits. Genesee Scientific will not provide a replacement or credit for any product that was purchased and used without prior lot pretesting. Any dissatisfaction with pretested, lot-specific serum must be reported to Genesee Scientific within 30 days of receipt to potentially qualify for a return. Failure to notify Genesee Scientific in this time frame will result in your acceptance of the product. If an order is damaged or incorrectly shipped as a result of our error, we will take quick and appropriate action to correct the issue.

In almost every instance, the serum is not contaminated. Occasionally thawed serum will appear cloudy. It is usually the result of normal serum components. Fibrin (a non-globular protein involved in the clotting of blood) is most common. Fibrin appears in small quantities as a fine flake or may occur as a lump of a semi-solid substance. The presence of this material does not alter the serum’s performance and may be mistaken for microbial contamination. If the turbidity is a concern, it can be removed by filtration through a 0.45µm filter. However, the sediment may clog many lab-scale filters. If necessary, allow the serum to stand. The sediments will eventually fall to the bottom of the bottle and the serum can be decanted.

Heating inactivates complement. Active complement can participate in cytolytic events, contract smooth muscle, release histamine from mast cells and platelets, and activate lymphocytic and macrophage cells. Applications where heat-inactivated serum is recommended include immunological studies and culturing of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), insect cells, and smooth muscle cells.

Your Genesee sales representative will be happy to assist you in getting a reserve set up for a specific lot or testing to see what lot may work best for you.

Please contact our customer service team if the certificate of analysis you require is not available on our website.