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22 Gibco ® sera Gibco ® sera: frequently asked questions Why would I heat inactivate serum? Heating inactivates complement. Active complement can participate in cytolytic events, contract smooth muscle, release histamine from mast cells and platelets, and activate lymphocytic and macrophage cells. Applications where heat-inactivated serum is recommended include immunological studies and culturing of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), insect cells, and smooth muscle cells. What is the importance of gamma-irradiated sera? Gamma irradiation is recognized as an effective method for inactivating viruses in animal-origin material. Based on USDA regulations for the general requirements for antibody products (9CFR, Section 113.450), the minimum dosage for treating blood derivatives of animal origin is 25 kGy (kilogray). Certain European countries require products to be treated prior to importation with a minimum dose of 25 kGy. We will gamma-irradiate serum on request. We have validated a process for using gamma irradiation in the range of 30–45 kGy to inactivate the most common bovine viruses and mycoplasmas that may be present in FBS. The level of inactivation is 6–8 logs for viruses and 6–7 logs for mycoplasmas. We have also demonstrated that physiochemical properties and cell culture performance of serum are not altered by gamma irradiation at levels of 30–40 kGy. Can I get custom serum products for my specific research requirements? Yes. We offer a wide range of custom options. Please contact our serum specialists to discuss your application and research needs. We will work with you to supply sera specially processed and tested to meet your individual requirements. Some examples ofour custom capabilities are heat inactivation, gamma irradiation, and testing for tetracycline residues. What is the difference between fetal bovine serum and fetal calf serum? There is no difference. Both terms refer to serum from an unborn cow. How is dialyzed FBS processed? It is dialyzed by tangential flow filtration against 0.15 M NaCl using a 10,000 MW cutoff membrane until the glucose level is less than 5 mg/dL. Because this is not exhaustive dialysis, low molecular weight dialyzable components such as amino acids may not be completely removed. Exhaustive dialysis is not performed because it can result in precipitation and inactivation of serum peptides. What is the difference between Certified and Qualified FBS? The serum is from the same source, collected and processed in the same way. The differences are in testing performed on the serum and the specifications for release. Certified serum undergoes additional biochemical and hormonal testing, as well as additional bacterial tests. Certified FBS is guaranteed to have low concentrations of endotoxin (10 EU/mL or less) and hemoglobin (15 mg/dL or less). What does International Serum Industry Association (ISIA) traceability certification mean? It means the company maintains all auditable history of quality and quantity of materials from the point of collection (including specific animal numbers for donor products), and documentation supporting all stages of processing and transportation or commercial transactions. How do I heat-inactivate serum? Heat it at 56°C in a water bath for 30 minutes and swirl the bottle every 10 minutes or so. For accuracy, use a second bottle of similar size as a control and add an equivalent volume of water to the control bottle. Place a thermometer in the control bottle to see when 56°C is reached. Set your timer for 30 minutes at this point.