Essential 8™ Flex Medium Kit
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Returning to the lab? Essential 8 Flex enables a flexible feeding schedule to help maximize your time.
Essential 8™ Flex Medium Kit
Gibco™

Essential 8™ Flex Medium Kit

Essential 8 Flex Medium is a xeno-free and feeder-free medium that supports the culture of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) with a flexible feeding schedule.
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Catalog NumberQuantity
A28585011 Kit
Catalog number A2858501
Price (USD)
404.65
Online Exclusive
430.00
Save 25.35 (6%)
Each
Add to cart
Quantity:
1 Kit
Price (USD)
404.65
Online Exclusive
430.00
Save 25.35 (6%)
Each
Add to cart

Essential 8 Flex Medium is a xeno-free and feeder-free medium that supports the culture of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) without the need for weekend feeding. It is provided in a convenient two-component kit (500 mL basal medium and 10 mL supplement).

Essential 8 Flex provides all of the benefits of Essential 8 Medium: minimized variability of components, reliable and robust cultures with a xeno-free, cGMP produced medium, along with the added benefit of flexibility. Maintenance of standard PSCs no longer requires being in the lab seven days a week.

Flexibility

With Essential 8 Flex Medium, pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) need only be fed on the day of splitting and the day after. If the cells will be left without feeding for more than 48 hours, such as over a weekend, then simply double the feed volume on Friday.

Reliable and robust cultures

Essential 8 Flex Medium has been shown to support PSC growth for >30 passages without any signs of karyotypic abnormalities and to maintain the ability of iPSCs to differentiate into all three germ line lineages.

Cost effective

Essential 8 Flex Medium is provided in a convenient two-component kit (500 mL basal medium and 10 mL supplement), and when used with vitronectin (VTN-N), provides a cost effective, defined system for feeder-free culture of human pluripotent stem cells.

The Essential 8 Flex Medium formulation is based upon that published for Essential 8 Medium by Chen, et al., and allows for control and flexibility of PSC culture medium, without a negative impact to the health of the stem cells.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Specifications
Cell LineEmbryonic Stem Cells (ESCs), Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)
Cell TypeEmbryonic Stem Cells (ESCs), Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)
ConcentrationEssential 8 Flex Basal Medium (1X), Essential 8 Flex Supplement (50X)
Manufacturing QualitycGMP for medical devices, 21 CFR Part 820 and ISO 13485
Product LineEssential 8™
Product TypeStem Cell Media
Quantity1 Kit
Shelf Life12 Months
Shipping ConditionSupplement - dry ice, Basal - ambient
ClassificationXeno-free
Culture TypeAdherent Cell Culture, Feeder-free Stem Cell Culture (Human, iPS - Induced Pluripotent Stem, Embryonic), Stem Cell (Human, iPS - Induced Pluripotent Stem, Embryonic)
FormLiquid
Serum LevelSerum-free
SterilitySterile-filtered
Sterilization MethodSterile-filtered
With AdditivesPhenol Red
Unit SizeEach
Contents & Storage
• 500 mL Basal Medium (store at 2–8°C and protect from light)
• 10 mL Supplement (store at -5 to -20°C and protect from light)

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the pH range for Essential 8 Medium?

The pH range for Essential 8 Medium is pH 7 -7.4.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Culture Support Center.

Where can I find the osmolality for Essential 8 Medium?

We do provide osmolality information on the certificate of analysis for the particular lot number of your medium. All lots of Essential 8 Medium will meet the osmolality specification of ≥290 to ≤340 mOsm/kg.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Culture Support Center.

Can I filter sterilize Essential 8 Medium using a 0.22 µm filter?

You can filter the basal Essential 8 medium or the complete Essential 8 medium through a 0.22 µm filter (vacuum driving filtration). But, we recommend that you use a low protein-binding filter.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Culture Support Center.

What is the difference between StemFlex Medium and Essential 8 Flex Medium?

Essential 8 Flex Medium is a serum-free, xeno-free medium that contains proprietary material to extend the activity of the key heat-sensitive component, FGF2. Therefore, it supports the culture and expansion of feeder-free pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) without the need for daily or weekend feeding. Note: We also offer Essential 8 Medium that does not allow skipping of PSC feeding during the weekend.

StemFlex Medium also supports the expansion of feeder-free PSCs with a flexible feeding schedule (including weekend-free feeding) and also the ability to choose the matrix and passaging reagent that best suits specific applications.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Culture Support Center.

Is it possible to reprogram somatic cells using Essential 7 or Essential 8 medium and transition them into StemFlex Medium upon harvest?

Yes. If improved reprogramming efficiency is required, then you may utilize Essential 7 (Essential 6 + bFGF) or Essential 8 Medium for reprogramming somatic cells and directly transition them into StemFlex Medium system upon colony selection.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Culture Support Center.

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