Do you offer DMEM/F12 medium without folic acid?
We do not offer DMEM/F12 medium without folic acid as a standard catalog product. However, our Customs group can make it for you as a custom media. If you are interested, please complete this Custom order inquiry form PDF (https://www.thermofisher.com/content/dam/LifeTech/global/applied-sciences/pdfs/Bioproduction/Gibco-Custom-Media-Buffers-Request-Form.pdf) and email it to custommedia@thermofisher.com. Our Customs group will review your requirements and get back to you within a couple of days with pricing, ordering information, and lead time. After that, you have the choice of proceeding with an official order or declining.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Culture Support Center.
I understand that some media are worse than others for fluorescence imaging. How do I choose?
Most media contain phenol red, which can quench fluorescent dyes in the visible wavelengths. Most media also contain autofluorescent components, such as riboflavin, which can reduce signal-to-background. We offer FluoroBrite DMEM and HEPES-based Live Cell Imaging Solution, which have been optimized for fluorescent imaging. We also offer a number of media without phenol red. But if none of these are reasonable options for your experiment, then we also offer BackDrop Background Suppressor ReadyProbes Reagent, which can be added to quench media autofluorescence.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.
Should I be concerned about phenol red in my media when labeling my live cells with fluorescent dyes?
Some cell types accumulate phenol red, and this can pose a problem in the use of many fluorescent probes. Phenol red can quench visible-wavelength dyes and, although phenol red is non-fluorescent, various impurities may be fluorescent. We have many phenol red-free media to choose from. Our Live Cell Imaging Solution (HEPES-based) and our FluoroBrite DMEM have been optimized to be phenol red-free as well as to be non-autofluorescent.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.
How long can I keep my media after supplementing with serum?
Generally speaking, media can be used for up to three weeks after supplementation with serum. There are no formal studies to support this, but it is the rule of thumb used by our scientists.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Mammalian Cell Culture Basics Support Center.
My medium was shipped at room temperature but it is supposed to be stored refrigerated. Is it okay?
We routinely ship media that require long-term storage in the refrigerator at room temperature. We have done studies on representative media formulations to show that media can be at room temperature for up to a week without a problem.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Mammalian Cell Culture Basics Support Center.