Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) is one of the most commonly used of all cell culture media. MEM can be used with a variety of suspension and adherent mammalian cells, including HeLa, BHK-21, 293, HEP-2, HT-1080, MCF-7, fibroblasts, and primary rat astrocytes. We offer a variety of Gibco™ MEM modifications for a range of cell culture applications. Find the right formulation using our media selector tool.

Gibco™ MEM, developed by Harry Eagle, was based on his earlier formulation of Basal Medium Eagle (BME). Many other modifications of MEM followed, including Glasgow's MEM, MEM α, DMEM, and Temin's Modification. MEM is available with Earle's salts for use in a CO₂ incubator, or with Hanks' salts for use without CO₂.

Product Intended Use
For Research Use Only. Not intended for animal or human diagnostic or therapeutic use.

MEM contains no proteins, lipids, or growth factors. Therefore, MEM requires supplementation, commonly with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). MEM uses a sodium bicarbonate buffer system (2.2 g/L) and therefore requires a 5–10% CO₂ environment to maintain physiological pH.