DPBS is a balanced salt solution (BSS) used for the handling and culturing of mammalian cells. Calcium and magnesium facilitate cell binding and clumping. DPBS without these ions can be used to wash and rinse suspended cells.

Applications: DPBS can be used to provide a buffer system to maintain cell culture media in the physiological pH range of 7.0 to 7.6. DPBS serves as an irrigating, transporting, or diluting fluid for mammalian cells while maintaining cell tonicity and viability for a limited period of time.