Serum-Free and Animal-Free Cell Culture
Most labs move away from FBS in two steps. First they replace the bovine serum with a human or recombinant supplement. Later, where the process allows it, they switch to a fully defined medium. We supply both from Germany: recombinant human albumin, human platelet lysate, human AB serum and serum-free media for CHO, HEK293, MSC and stem cells.
Serum-free, xeno-free, animal-free: what the terms mean
The terms are often mixed up. For a raw material file the difference matters, so here is how we use them.
| Term | Meaning | Our products |
|---|---|---|
| Serum-free | The medium contains no serum. It may still contain purified proteins such as albumin or transferrin. | Serum-free media; rHSA as albumin source |
| Xeno-free | No material from non-human species. Human-derived components are allowed. | hPL, human AB serum, rHSA |
| Animal component-free (ACF) | No raw materials of animal origin anywhere in the product. | rHSA Premium and Economy (expressed in rice), animal-free media |
| Chemically defined | Every component and its concentration is known. | SimplaceCDX, CelliMax® CHO media |
Supplements that replace FBS
These go into the medium you already use. That makes them the quickest way to drop bovine serum.
| Product | Source and key data | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| rHSA Premium | Recombinant human albumin, expressed in rice endosperm. ≥99 % purity (SDS-PAGE), endotoxin <0.125 EU/mg, lyophilised powder. | Albumin in serum-free and xeno-free media for CHO, HEK293 and Vero cells; donor-free supplement for CAR-T, NK and MSC culture; freezing media. |
| rHSA Economy | Recombinant human albumin, expressed in rice endosperm. 90–99 % purity, endotoxin <5 EU/mg. | IVD reagents, blocking, protein stabilisation and method development. For cell culture we recommend Premium. |
| Human platelet lysate (hPL) | From EU platelet units of healthy donors. Research, GMP and GMP-clinical (virus-inactivated) grades. GMP grade is fibrinogen-depleted and heparin-free; 50, 100 and 500 mL. | MSC expansion and primary cells at 1–10 % (v/v) in MEM α or DMEM; cell therapy process development. |
| Human AB serum | Blood group AB, no anti-A or anti-B antibodies. Male or mixed donors, off-the-clot from male donors; EU or US donor centres. Native, heat inactivated or gamma irradiated. | T cell and CAR-T culture, NK cell expansion, MSC isolation and expansion. |
Serum-free media by cell type
| Cell type | Recommended medium | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| CHO | CelliMax® CHO basal media (MetaCHO, Versa) and feeds (FGa, FGa plus, FGb) | GMP grade |
| HEK293 – research | SimplaceX (serum-free) and SimplaceCDX (chemically defined) for HEK293T | Research grade |
| HEK293 – viral vectors | CelliMax® Trans293 and TransV-293 for AAV and lentiviral vectors | GMP grade |
| MSC | CelliMax® MSC medium for bone marrow, adipose and umbilical cord MSC, xeno-free | GMP grade |
| iPSC and hESC | CelliMax® hPSC medium, feeder-free and xeno-free | GMP grade |
| Naive iPSC | NaivaCore, based on the HENSM formulation | Research grade |
| Organoids | OrganoMedium for organoid expansion | On request |
| Other cell lines | Custom media, formulated for your cell line and process | On request |
Where to start
You grow MSC or primary cells in FBS
Start with hPL at 1–10 % (v/v) in your current basal medium. The fibrinogen-depleted GMP grade needs no heparin. The rest of the protocol usually stays the same.
You expand T cells, CAR-T or NK cells
Human AB serum is the usual human supplement here. Where the material must be donor-free, rHSA Premium takes over the albumin function.
You build a defined production process
For CHO and HEK293 production, use a serum-free or chemically defined medium. Add rHSA Premium where your process calls for albumin.
How to order
Free test sample
Test the material in your own cells before you order.
Lot reservation
We hold your lot of serum, hPL or albumin for up to 36 months, without prepayment.
Delivery from Germany
Cold-chain shipping to the EU, UK and Switzerland.
- Request a quote or a free test sample →
- All rHSA grades compared
- All serum-free media and serum replacements
- Serum replacement (lyophilisate)
- Still need FBS? All FBS grades
Guides
- Xeno-free vs serum-free vs animal component-free
- FBS alternatives: how to switch
- Adapting cells to serum-free culture
- What is xeno-free cell culture?
- What is animal component-free cell culture?
- What is human platelet lysate?
- What is recombinant human serum albumin?
- HSA vs rHSA: which grade for which use
- Human AB serum in cell culture
- FBS vs human serum
Frequently asked questions
Is human platelet lysate serum-free?
No. hPL is made from human platelets and, like AB serum, is a human blood product. It is xeno-free, but not serum-free or animal component-free. If your process must be free of all blood-derived material, use a serum-free medium with recombinant albumin.
How much hPL do I use instead of FBS?
hPL is used at 1–10 % (v/v) in basal media such as MEM α or DMEM. The right concentration depends on your cells, so test it side by side with your FBS culture. We send a free sample for that.
Which rHSA grade is right for cell culture?
rHSA Premium, with ≥99 % purity and endotoxin below 0.125 EU/mg. rHSA Economy is meant for IVD reagents, blocking and method development.
Which of your serum-free media are GMP grade?
The CelliMax® media for CHO, HEK293 (Trans293, TransV-293), MSC and hPSC are GMP grade. SimplaceX, SimplaceCDX and NaivaCore are research grade.
Can I test before I order?
Yes. We send a free test sample. For serum, hPL and albumin it comes from the lot you would receive, and we can reserve that lot for up to 36 months.
Not sure which option fits your cells?
Tell us your cell type and process stage. We reply within one business day.
Request a quote Contact us
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