Gibco™

Fetal Bovine Serum, MaxSpec

Gibco™ MaxSpec Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is our highest quality FBS, meeting selective specifications to help provide consistent, reproducible results.

Catalog Number	Quantity
A4766801	500 mL

Catalog number A4766801

Price (USD)

1,238.00

Quantity:

500 mL

Price (USD)

1,238.00

Gibco™ MaxSpec Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is our highest quality FBS, meeting selective specifications to help provide consistent, reproducible results. Only MaxSpec FBS delivers our best quality specifications and testing levels.

Gibco™ sera: trusted quality for consistent performance

MaxSpec Sera Features

Use with a broad range of cell types, especially sensitive cell lines
Our most characterized sera with the lowest endotoxin and hemoglobin levels
Endotoxin level: ≤1 EU/mL
Hemoglobin level: ≤15 mg/dL
Origin: United States, Australia, or New Zealand (refer to CoA for specific origin)

Additional features of this serum include:

Meets USP/EP guidelines with up to 96 harmonized quality specification tests
Additional proliferation tests on top six cell lines
EMA virus testing upon request
Lowest risk of BSE and lower viral risk
ISO 13485-certified; processed in FDA-registered facilities
Triple-filtered at 0.1 μm
Gibco™ bottle is easy to use in a hood, helps reduce risk of contamination, and allows you to perform cell culture more consistently
Peel-off sticker on label provides handy reference for lot number and expiration date recording in lab notebook

For research use or further manufacturing use only. Serum and blood proteins are not for direct administration into humans or animals.

Specifications

Cell TypeUse for a broad range of cell types, especially sensitive cell lines

Certifications/ComplianceMeets USP/EP guidelines; ISO 13485 Certified

ClassificationSpecialty

Endotoxin Concentration≤1 EU/mL

Hemoglobin Concentration≤15 mg/dL

Purity or Quality GradePremium Plus

Shelf Life5 Years

Shipping ConditionFrozen

SpeciesCattle/Bovine

Tested ForMeets USP/EP guidelines with up to 96 harmonized quality specification tests; Additional proliferation tests on top 6 cell lines; EMA virus testing upon request

AgeFetal

Country of OriginRefer to CoA for specific origin

FormLiquid

FormatBottle

Product TypeFetal Bovine Serum

Quantity500 mL

SterilitySterile

Sterilization MethodTriple-filtered, 0.1 μm

Unit SizeEach

Contents & Storage

Store at or below -10°C.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What are the benefits and disadvantages of using heat-inactivated FBS in cell culture?

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.
Heat inactivation helps to achieve bottle-to-bottle and lot-to-lot stability by neutralizing many factors that can vary largely from lot to lot.
There aren't necessarily disadvantages to heat inactivation of FBS, but there is some evidence that suggests there may be no added benefit to it unless you are carrying out immune studies.

Note: Heat inactivation is performed in a 56 degrees C water bath for 30 min with swirling every 10 min or so for heat distribution and to lower the degree of protein aggregation/flocculant precipitation. Note: If the time or temperature is exceeded, the serum may thicken to a gel. If this occurs, the serum is no longer usable. Unnecessary heat inactivation can take up time and potentially lead to wasted reagents if a mistake is made during the protocol¹.

1. Pellerin, et al., Bioengineering, published in 2021.

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