- ✓Proudly made in the USA, manufactured in house
- ✓Certificate of Analysis available for every lot
- ✓Backed by decades of cell culture and protein biochemistry expertise
- ✓Bulk pricing, purchase orders, and custom formulations welcome
Bovine Calf Serum (BCS)
A cost-effective growth supplement used in labs worldwide for routine in vitro culture of many cell types.
- Supports growth of human embryo fibroblasts and hepatitis models
- Collected from calves less than 12 months old
- US-origin serum for general cell and tissue culture
Description
Background
Laboratories around the globe use Bovine Calf Serum (BCS) to support the growth of many cell types in vitro. BCS provides proper growth for human Embryonic Fibroblast as well as models of hepatitis. Moreover, it performs well with U937 macrophage, human lymphocytes as well as blood cells including cord blood cells, T and B lymphocytes. We collect Bovine Calf Serum (BCS) from calves less than 12 months old.
Not sure which serum fits your cells? See our complete guide to cell culture serum.
Bovine Calf Serum (BCS) Vs. Fetal Bovine Serums (FBS)
- BCS contains approximately two-fold the protein compared to fetal bovine serum (FBS); among them are IgGs and other antibodies.
- Contains less growth factors than fetal bovine serum, however, it is proven to be adequate for the above-mentioned cell lines.
- Importantly, it is much more cost-effective than Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS).
Special Features
- PurMaTM Bovine Calf Serum (BCS) has US origin.
- PurMa TM Bovine Calf Serum (BCS) has been triple-filtered through 0.1 µM filters.
- PurMa Biologics sterilizes BCS with gamma irradiation methodology.
- PurMa Biologics performs heat-inactivation on our BCS.
- Has been tested for mycoplasma as well as endotoxin (see below), see the certificate of analysis.
- Has been tested on multiple cell lines, such as Hek293, COS1, and NS1 cells.
Analysis
For full Analysis performed on all PurMa Bovine and Horse Serums click here, as well as in “Documents” Tab: Routine Pathological Analysis on PurMa Bovine and Horse Serums
References
- Mitogenicity of fetal calf serum. Gergely et al. 1977;11(3-4):259-63. PMID: 311308
- Fetal Calf Serum Exerts an Inhibitory Effect on Replication of Duck Hepatitis A Virus Genotype 1 in Duck Embryo Fibroblast Cells. Wang, et al. Viruses. 2020 Jan 9;12(1):80. doi: 10.3390/v12010080. PMID: 31936491.
- Eicosanoid Content in Fetal Calf Serum Accounts for Reproducibility Challenges in Cell Culture. Niederstaetter et al. 2021 Jan 15;11(1):113. doi: 10.3390/biom11010113. PMID: 33467719.
| Methodology | Unit measured | Accepted level | Result |
| Sterility (Current USP and EP 2.6.1 for Bacteria & Fungi) | NA | Not Detected | Not Detected |
| pH | N/A | measured | 6.58 |
| Osmolality (USP 785) mOsm/KgH2 | mOsm/KgH20 | 280-340 | 288 |
| Hemoglobin (Fleming & Woolf) | mg/dL | <25 | 12.9 |
| Endotoxin (USP 85) | EU/mL | <20 | <0.100 |
| Mycoplasma (Barile & Kern; Large Volume, Direct Culture) | NA | Not Detected | Not Detected |
| IgG | Elliza | Measured | 0.19 ug/ml |
| Albumin | Eliza | Measured | ≤ 4.6 g/dL |
| Virus Testing (9 CFR 113.53c) | |||
| Bovine Adenovirus | NA | Not Detected | Not Detected |
| Bovine Parvovirus | NA | Not Detected | Not Detected |
| Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus | NA | Not Detected | Not Detected |
| Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus | NA | Not Detected | Not Detected |
| Rabies | NA | Not Detected | Not Detected |
| Reovirus | NA | Not Detected | Not Detected |
| Cytopathogenic Agents (IBR) | NA | Not Detected | Not Detected |
| Hemadsorbing Agents (PI3) | NA | Not Detected | Not Detected |
| Bluetongue | NA | Not Detected | Not Detected |
Learn more: What Is Bovine Calf Serum?
Additional information
| Size | 1 x 50 ml, 1 x 500 ml |
|---|
Documents
Certificate of Analysis (COA): Available upon request for your specific order — email info@purmabiologics.com and we will send the current lot documentation.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS): Available upon request — email info@purmabiologics.com.
What our customers say about PurMa Biologics
Feedback from labs we supply, across our full catalogue.
Very fast, efficient, and economic service. Great for new PIs like me.
it is reliable vendor!
We always buy our agarose from PurMa and have never been disappointed.
I recently had the pleasure of interacting with Dr. Seif Azadi from Purma Biologics, and I cannot thank him enough for his expertise and prompt assistance. His deep knowledge and dedication were instrumental in meeting our laboratory’s needs with remarkable efficiency. We ordered FBS, DMEM, and Trypsin from Purma Biologics, and I’m thrilled to report that all the products have performed exceptionally well. They consistently deliver reproducible results, significantly enhancing the reliability of our experiments. Thank you, Team Purma Biologics, for your good products and support!
It’s been a pleasure working with PURMA Biologics. Their service is efficient, delivery is fast, and the quality of their products has met our expectations consistently. Very smooth collaboration overall.
PurMa products are of excellent quality and highly reliable.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes does BCS come in?
Bovine Calf Serum (BCS) is supplied in 50 mL and 500 mL bottles.
How does bovine calf serum compare with FBS?
BCS is collected from young calves rather than foetal calves. It supplies many of the same growth factors, hormones and nutrients at a lower cost, and for robust, well established cell lines it often performs comparably. FBS remains the choice for demanding, sensitive or primary cultures.
Which cell types is BCS suited to?
BCS supports the growth of many routine cell types in vitro, including human embryonic fibroblasts and hepatitis models. It is generally the economical option for established lines that do not need the extra potency of FBS.
Is BCS tested, and is a Certificate of Analysis available?
Yes. It is manufactured in house in the USA and each lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis available on request. Lot specific storage and expiry are printed on the bottle and listed on the COA.
Do you offer bulk pricing and purchase orders for BCS?
Yes. Custom formulations, non standard fill volumes and bulk orders are all available, since everything is made in house. Purchase orders are accepted and bulk pricing is available. Request a quote from this page and we will come back with pricing and lead time.
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