Quick Definition
What is FBS Low IgG?: FBS Low IgG is fetal bovine serum processed to reduce bovine immunoglobulin G to less than 200 µg/mL, compared to 50–200 mg/mL in standard FBS. It is used in hybridoma monoclonal antibody production where bovine IgG co-purification during Protein A/G affinity chromatography contaminates the final antibody product.
When do you need FBS Low IgG?
During hybridoma fusion and limiting dilution cloning, standard FBS at 15% is correct — the priority is maximum growth support and cloning efficiency. At production scale, switching to FBS Low IgG reduces bovine IgG load in the culture supernatant before Protein A/G purification. For low-producing hybridoma lines yielding <20 µg/mL mAb, bovine IgG in standard FBS can exceed the mAb concentration — making purification poor. FBS Low IgG solves this without requiring serum-free adaptation.
Low IgG vs Ultra Low IgG
FBS Low IgG (<200 µg/mL) is sufficient for research-grade mAb production where >85% purity after a single Protein A step is acceptable. FBS Ultra Low IgG (<5 µg/mL) is required for diagnostic antibody manufacturing or any application where bovine IgG cross-reactivity would cause assay interference.
Key Facts
- Standard FBS contains 50–200 µg/mL bovine IgG — significant contamination of Protein A/G purified murine mAb eluates
- FBS Low IgG: <200 µg/mL bovine IgG — for research-grade mAb production
- FBS Ultra Low IgG: <5 µg/mL — required for diagnostic-grade or therapeutic antibody applications
- Bovine IgG and murine IgG co-elute from Protein A/G columns at pH 2.8 — cannot be separated post-purification
- Switch from standard FBS to Low IgG at the production phase only — fusion and cloning phases can use standard FBS
- Available from SeamlessBio in 50 mL, 100 mL, 500 mL
Further Reading
SeamlessBio GmbH · Passau, Germany · info@seamlessbio.de
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