Definitions of Bovine Serum Types

The liquid fraction of clotted blood derived from healthy, slaughtered cattle 12 months of age or older, deemed fit for human consumption by ante- and/or post-mortem inspection. Collected in abattoirs inspected by the competent authority of the country of origin. No deletions or additions (including preservatives) allowed.

Bovine Calf Serum is the liquid fraction of clotted blood derived from healthy, slaughtered bovine calves aged from 20 days up to 12 months, deemed fit for human consumption by ante- and/or post-mortem inspection. Collected in abattoirs inspected by the competent authority of the country of origin. No deletions or additions allowed.

Semi-processed FBS that has been thawed, pooled, and subjected to some level of filtration before being dispensed into final packaging. No further processes, treatment, additions, or deletions are allowed. Stored frozen pending further treatment.

Donor-sourced Bovine Serum is the liquid fraction of clotted blood derived from healthy cattle 12 months of age or older from controlled donor herds whose health status is confirmed by regular inspection by competent, legally authorized veterinarians. No deletions or additions (including preservatives) allowed.

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is obtained from the blood of fetuses of healthy, pre-partum bovine dams deemed fit for human consumption through ante- and/or post-mortem veterinary inspection. Fetal blood is collected aseptically using cardiac puncture, reducing the risk of microbial contamination. Semi-processed FBS is the liquid fraction of the clotted fetal blood — no further processing, additions, or deletions are allowed. Stored frozen pending further processing. May be treated using gamma irradiation or heat inactivation.

The liquid fraction of clotted blood derived from newborn calves that have not suckled from the mother cow. Collected in abattoirs inspected by the competent authority of the country of origin. No deletions or additions (including preservatives) allowed.

Newborn Bovine Calf Serum is the liquid fraction of clotted blood derived from healthy, slaughtered bovine calves aged less than 20 days, deemed fit for human consumption through ante- and/or post-mortem inspection. Collected in abattoirs inspected by the competent authority of the country of origin. No deletions or additions allowed.

These products can be provided semi-processed, clarified, or sterile filtered. They can also be provided screened for suitability in a specific application (Pre-qualified or Screened), or subjected to specific modification, treatment, enhancement, or alteration (Specialty).

The liquid fraction of un-clotted blood. After the addition of an anticoagulant to fresh whole blood, plasma is prepared by centrifuging the mixture until the red and white blood cells separate from the liquid phase. The plasma is then removed and may be stored frozen pending further use or processing.

Sterile-filtered FBS that has been screened or qualified for suitability for specific applications. Examples include Hybridoma screened, Stem Cell screened, Insect Cell screened, Low Endotoxin tested, or Low IgG tested. May be labeled according to the application for which it has been qualified.

The liquid fraction of clotted blood. Depleted of cells, fibrin, and clotting factors. Differs from plasma in that anti-coagulant is never added to the blood after collection. Prepared by centrifuging until the clot and remaining blood cells are separated from the liquid phase. Stored frozen pending further processing.

Semi-processed or sterile filtered FBS that has been subjected to one or more modification processes, or enhanced or altered in any way. Examples include Dialysed, Charcoal Stripped, IgG stripped, pH treated, Performance Enhanced, Dehydrated and Reconstituted. Must be labeled to clearly identify modification.

Semi-processed FBS that has been thawed, pooled, and subjected to filtration (usually through a series of membrane filters culminating in a sterile 0.1 micron filter) before being aseptically dispensed into final packaging. No further processes, additions, or deletions are allowed. Stored frozen. May be treated using gamma irradiation or heat inactivation.

Whole blood may contain anti-coagulants but otherwise is not modified, treated, or processed and contains no other additives. Whole fresh blood is not modified, treated, or processed and contains no additives whatsoever.