In a previous article we discussed the influence of various regulations on the availability of Fetal Bovine Serum. Now we will talk about the FBS replacement alternatives.
The need to substitute Fetal Bovine Serum is recurring. It is driven by economic, regulatory and ethical considerations. FBS alternatives become a “hot topic” in times of shortage and high prices. Since FBS shortages are cyclic as we showed in earlier articles, the attention of scientists and manufacturers is periodically driven to new replacement options in cell culture and diagnostic manufacturing.
Here is an overview of the past three decades in scientific publications:
- JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association), Sept. 12, 1980: “During the past year the price of serum from cattle fetuses has risen from about $60/L to about $400/L because of limited supply and increased demand. Experts predict that the shortage will continue because there are no feasible ways to increase production to meet the burgeoning demands.”
- NATURE journal, Aug. 11, 1988: “With the current shortage in fetal bovine serum, researchers are turning to a variety of options for cell and tissue culture.”
- JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Apil 1990: "Traditionally, fetal bovine serum (FBS) has been the principal component in media used in the growth and maintenance of cell cultures. Recent shortages have affected the cost and availability of FBS to clinical laboratories. Omni Serum is a supplemented calf serum optimally used at concentrations of 2 to 5%, according to the recommendations of the manufacturer."
- NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION, 1990: "Iron-supplemented bovine calf serum (ICS) was found to be a viable alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS)… Since ICS is more readily available and considerably less costly than FBS, a substantial reduction in the cost of the assay can be realized."
- NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION, 2003: "The most widely used animal serum supplement is Fetal Bovine Serum, FBS. Since serum is in general an ill-defined component in cell-culture media, a number of chemically defined serum-free media formulations have been developed in the last two decades."
- NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION, 2011: "Alternatives to the use of fetal bovine serum: human platelet lysates as a serum substitute in cell culture media."
Serum replacement products have been on the market for quite a long time. New products are constantly under development. End users are working on their own in-house formulae to reduce costs and secure stability in supply. What are the alternatives in 2014?
Numerous serum-free and animal-derived-component-free culture media are available. Many of these require cell adaption and are not generally suitable for all culture applications.
Additionally various products containing animal derived components are offered as FBS replacement. Some of these are:
- Rocky Mountain Biologicals: LipoGro and FetalGro http://www.rmbio.com/
- ATLAS Biologicals: EquaFETAL http://www.atlasbio.com/
- GE / Hyclone: Alpha Calf Fraction Supplement, Bovine Growth Serum, FetalClone https://promo.gelifesciences.com/gl/hyclone/products/fetal-bovine-serum-fbs-alternatives.html
- Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium Solution as serum reducer is being offered by Life Technologies, Sigma Aldrich, Mediatech-Cellgro etc.
- Iron-Supplemented Calf Serum from formula-fed bovine calves is in the product line of JR Scientific, Rocky Mountain Biologicals, Atlanta Biologicals etc.
- Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) can be specifically manufactured as a serum replacer or reducer – it can be found in the product portfolio of Boval Biosolutions http://www.bovalco.com
Many of these products offer advantages and/or drawbacks compared to FBS. The selection of a suitable culture media supplement is application driven. Fetal Bovine Serum remains the most universally applicable supplement, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. The development or substitutes will continue and we are looking forward to interesting new results.
Tell us about your favorite FBS replacement product. Share your experience and opinion.
