With increasing restrictions in transporting products made from Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), many investigators have difficulty finding a source of Lipoprotein Depleted FBS (LDFBS) for their specialized cell cultures. Here we briefly present some important considerations to encourage laboratories with access to FBS and an ultra-centrifuge to prepare their own LDFBS.
For decades, FBS has been used as a supplement for cell-culture media, providing the growth factors that cultured cells require. The availability of FBS as a by-product of the food industry made it plentiful and inexpensive, but the rise of bovine spongiform encephalopathy has led to increased control in the production of FBS. Traceability of the source and uses of the livestock are commonplace, and increased restrictions on international import/export of materials from livestock have been implemented. These events have increased the cost of FBS and limited the sources available for further manufacture, specifically of LDFBS.
To download the application note click here.