FBS vs Serum-Free Media: Key Differences and When to Use Each
FBS vs serum-free media is less a matter of one being better than the other, and more a question of which one your application actually needs. Standard fetal bovine serum…
Cell Culture Blog & Laboratory Guides
Practical protocols, troubleshooting guides, media comparisons, and laboratory resources from PurMa Biologics.
DMEM vs MEM: Key Differences and When to Use Each
DMEM vs MEM is one of the first choices a lab faces when setting up a new mammalian cell culture. Both are Eagle style basal media, but they differ enough in…
Cell Culture Buffers: Types, Uses, and How to Choose
Cell culture buffers keep cells healthy outside the incubator and during routine handling. They maintain a stable pH, hold the right osmotic balance, and supply the inorganic ions cells need…
Cell Culture Serum: Types, Uses, and How to Choose
Cell culture serum is one of the most important supplements in mammalian cell culture. Added to basal media, it supplies the growth factors, hormones, attachment factors, and transport proteins that…
DMEM vs RPMI 1640: Key Differences and When to Use Each
DMEM vs RPMI 1640 is one of the most common decisions in cell culture, because the two media were designed for very different kinds of cells. Both are nutrient-rich basal…
EBSS vs HBSS: Key Differences and When to Use Each
EBSS and HBSS are balanced salt solutions used for washing, transport, dilution, and short-term cell handling. Both help maintain osmotic balance and supply inorganic ions, but their typical bicarbonate concentrations…
Horse Serum vs FBS: Key Differences and When to Use Each
Horse serum vs FBS is one of the most common decisions a researcher faces when choosing a serum supplement for mammalian cell culture. Both support cell growth, but they come…
PBS Solution Composition From Recipe to Reproducibility
A failed cell culture run is often blamed on the visible variables. The cells looked stressed. The transfection underperformed. The antibody staining was weak. But one of the least suspected…
What is Fetal Bovine Serum Used For in 2026?
Fetal bovine serum is still the default growth supplement in many labs, but it is also one of the least controlled variables in the room. That contradiction explains why so…
Your Guide to Custom Cell Culture Media
In the world of cell culture, a one-size-fits-all approach just doesn't cut it. That's where custom cell culture media comes in. This isn't just about tweaking a formula; it's about…
