FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR FBS

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1 FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR FBS

2 FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR FBS Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas iaculis hendrerit urna nec molestie. Fusce quis feugiat mi, vel feugiat dolor. Vestibulum luctus imperdiet odio eget sagittis. Mauris vitae blandit turpis. Cras mattis auctor diam ullamcorper vehicula. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Ut vitae blandit arcu. Curabitur leo elit, bibendum vitae sapien nec, mattis porttitor orci. Phasellus pulvinar, risus at ullamcorper ultricies, lacus est consectetur diam, et placerat turpis augue eget sapien. Duis ultrices quis eros et ullamcorper. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Is it actual FBS? 2 2. Is it comprehensively characterized? 3 3. Is there lot to lot consistency? 4 4. Does country of origin matter? 5 5. Is it fully traceable? 6 1

3 1. IS IT ACTUAL FBS? While they may look the same in the bottle, fetal bovine serum (FBS) and other bovine sera such as adult or newborn calf vary drastically in chemical composition. Two particular proteins, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), are found in markedly lower concentrations in FBS compared to newborn calf serum (NBCS). With experimental reproducibility continuing to cost companies and labs millions of dollars every year, it is important to know what variables are being introduced into your in vitro systems. Carefully reading the certificate of analysis (CoA) of your FBS will take you one step closer to knowing what products are being used in your experiments. As always, pay attention to units! FOR MORE INFORMATION Read our blog post on determining the authenticity of FBS: nucleusbiologics.com/determining-authenticity-of-fetal-bovine-serum 2

4 2. IS IT COMPREHENSIVELY CHARACTERIZED? With the wide range of FBS sources available on the market, it can be challenging to determine how they differ. Oftentimes, price becomes the final metric. However, while it may appear that several products perform comparably in the test assay, there may be hidden consequences downstream. If your project progresses and results start to vary, how will you know if your FBS is to blame? The answer starts with characterization. The more data you have, the easier it is to solve a problem. Cell culture components and systems can be highly complex with many variables and having the most characterized reagents is optimal. In the advent that something goes wrong with your experiment, you will be armed with a comprehensive list of tests that can help in determining the contributing factors. Having this characterization data at your fingertips can help save you time and resources. 3

5 3. IS THERE LOT TO LOT CONSISTENCY? Consistency from bottle to bottle and batch to batch is key. Anyone who has had to validate reagents can attest to the grueling exercise of running an analysis on multiple lots of FBS across multiple vendors, trying to find that one lot that allows you to reproduce your results. These assays take up valuable time and resources which can easily get out of hand. This is widely accepted as an industry standard. But, as so many of us have experienced, a well-built assay is a house of cards when the cell culture reagents used are not reliable. Consistency in FBS is driven by a controlled supply chain that starts with single origin raw material sourcing and is confirmed through extensive characterization. 4

6 4. DOES COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MATTER? Many companies who use FBS to manufacture vaccines and other life-saving biologics require that their FBS be sourced from either Australia or New Zealand. This comes down to risk mitigation. Australia and New Zealand are known for having some of the most stringent entry requirements and best agricultural veterinary practices. According to the World Health Organisation (OIE), these two nations have a long track record of maintaining their status at the lowest risk level. While BSE transmission to your FBS is not a high risk, this low OIE designation is indicative of stringency in preventative measures and agricultural processes. 5

7 5. IS IT FULLY TRACEABLE? Traceability is not defined by country of origin alone. Large FBS suppliers often source raw material from multiple locations and pool them to dilute the effects of any one location within a country. However, many are not aware that traceability and consistency work hand in hand. Sourcing raw material from herds of similar breed mixes and similar locations will yield FBS that is more consistent lot to lot. 6

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