Calf Serum (CS / BCS)
Calf Serum (CS), also known as Bovine Calf Serum (BCS), is collected from healthy bovine calves between 14 days and 6 months of age. The most cost-effective bovine serum option — 40–60% lower cost than FBS — with excellent growth-promoting activity for robust cell lines and high-volume manufacturing applications.
Applications
Large-Scale Routine Cell Line Maintenance
Most economical option for high-volume culture of CHO, HeLa, Vero, HEK293, 3T3, BHK-21 and MDCK. Direct FBS replacement at the same concentration — 40–60% cost saving with equivalent performance for robust cell lines.
Veterinary Vaccine Production
Widely used in foot-and-mouth disease, veterinary virus vaccine and antigen production in BHK-21 and Vero cells. Cost efficiency is critical at large scale, making CS the standard choice for many established veterinary vaccine processes.
Agricultural & Veterinary Research
Species-matched or cost-effective serum supplement for bovine, ovine and porcine primary cell lines in veterinary, agricultural and animal science research applications.
Large-Scale Cell Banking
Most economical bovine serum for high-volume master and working cell bank cryopreservation where FBS cost represents a significant portion of total manufacturing cost.
Bioreactor Seed Train — Research Grade
Cost optimisation at N-2 and N-1 seed train stages before switching to FBS or serum-free media at final production scale. Reduces per-litre serum cost during scale-up expansion phases.
Cell-Based Assay Development
Routine cytotoxicity, proliferation and metabolic assays where IgG background level is not critical for the assay readout — and where throughput drives cost considerations.
Product Information
| Product type | Calf Serum (CS / BCS — Bovine Calf Serum) |
| Donor age | 14 days to 6 months |
| IgG content | Medium — increasing progressively with calf age |
| Collection | Pooled healthy calves, sterile bleed |
| Filtration | 0.2 µm sterile filtered |
| Endotoxin | Tested per lot — LAL method |
| Haemoglobin | ≤20 mg/dL |
| Mycoplasma | Tested — negative |
| BVDV | Tested — negative |
| Origin | USA, New Zealand or Australian — specify on order |
| Processing location | Germany (Passau) — processed in-house by SeamlessBio |
| Processing options | Standard · Heat Inactivated (56°C/30 min) · Gamma Irradiated on request |
| Volumes | 100 mL, 500 mL · Bulk on request |
| Storage | −20°C · Batch reservation available |
| Documentation | CoA, CoO, MSDS, TSE/BSE Statement |
| Regulatory status | For research use only |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Calf Serum and Newborn Calf Serum?
Newborn Calf Serum (NCS) comes from calves ≤10 days old with lower IgG and slightly higher growth factor content — closer to FBS in profile. Calf Serum comes from calves up to 6 months old with progressively higher IgG. For most routine immortalised cell line applications both are equivalent in performance — CS is the more economical choice.
Can Calf Serum replace FBS in all applications?
For standard immortalised cell lines, high-volume vaccine production and veterinary research — yes. For hybridoma culture, sensitive primary cells, iPSC culture or ATMP manufacturing where ultra-low IgG and maximum growth factor content are critical, FBS remains the better choice.
Is Australian origin Calf Serum available?
Yes — Australian, US and EU origin are available. Australian origin provides the highest biosafety documentation (negligible BSE/TSE risk per OIE classification) and is accepted for USDA and EU regulatory submissions. Specify your required origin at the time of enquiry.
Related Products
Request Calf Serum — Quote or Sample
EU, US and Australian origin available. Heat inactivated on request. Batch reservation. Full documentation included.
For research use only.
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