Description
Product Overview
SeamlessBio Calf Serum (CS) — US Origin is collected from healthy bovine calves between 14 days and 6 months of age at USDA 9CFR licensed collection facilities in the United States. Sterile filtered at 0.2 µm and batch-tested for endotoxin, haemoglobin, mycoplasma, and BVDV — it is the most cost-effective bovine serum for high-volume routine cell culture, delivering 40–60% cost savings versus FBS with equivalent growth-promoting performance for standard immortalised cell lines.
The preferred choice for large-scale manufacturing, veterinary vaccine production, agricultural research, and any application where cost efficiency is the primary driver. See the full portfolio on our Calf Serum product page.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Origin | USA — USDA 9CFR licensed collection facilities |
| Donor age | Calves 14 days to 6 months of age |
| Filtration | 0.2 µm sterile filtered |
| Endotoxin | Tested per lot (LAL method) |
| Haemoglobin | ≤20 mg/dL |
| Mycoplasma | Negative (tested) |
| BVDV | Negative (tested) |
| Regulatory documentation | 9CFR Certificate of Analysis |
| Storage | –20 °C (cold chain required) |
| Options | Heat inactivated (56 °C, 30 min) on request |
| Documentation | CoA, CoO, SDS; 9CFR CoA; TSE/BSE statement on request |
| Formats | 50 mL, 100 mL, 500 mL; bulk on request |
| Regulatory | Research Use Only (RUO) |
Applications
| Application | Protocol | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Routine cell line maintenance | 5–10% CS in DMEM, RPMI or MEM — direct FBS replacement | CHO, HeLa, Vero, HEK293, 3T3, BHK-21, MDCK — most economical bovine serum |
| Veterinary vaccine production | 5–10% CS in BHK-21, MDCK or Vero production medium | Foot-and-mouth disease, veterinary virus vaccines — CS widely used in agricultural manufacturing |
| Agricultural & veterinary research | 5–20% CS in species-appropriate medium | Bovine, ovine, porcine, equine cell lines |
| Large-scale cell banking | CS in cryopreservation medium | Most economical bovine serum for master and working cell bank programmes |
| Bioreactor seed train (non-ATMP) | 5–10% CS at N-2 to N-1 seed stages | Cost optimisation before switching to FBS or serum-free at production scale |
Available Formats
| Format | Size |
|---|---|
| Bottle | 50 mL |
| Bottle | 100 mL |
| Bottle | 500 mL |
| Bulk | On request |
Key Benefits
Batch Reservation
Reserve validated lots up to 36 months for reproducible long-term workflows.
Full Documentation
CoA, 9CFR CoA, TSE/BSE statement, CoO and SDS — from ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified partner facilities. Additional documents on request.
EU & Swiss Supply
Sourced from certified EU and Swiss partner facilities — fast cold-chain delivery across EU, UK and Switzerland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Calf Serum and how does it differ from FBS and Newborn Calf Serum?
Calf Serum (CS) is collected from bovine calves aged 14 days to 6 months — older than the fetuses used for FBS and younger than adult cattle. It contains higher total protein and IgG than FBS, and slightly lower growth factor concentrations, but delivers equivalent or near-equivalent cell growth promotion for most standard immortalised cell lines at 40–60% lower cost. Newborn Calf Serum (NCS, ≤10 days) has lower IgG and marginally higher growth factors than CS; NCS is preferred when lower IgG background matters, while CS is the better choice when maximum cost efficiency is the priority.
Can Calf Serum replace FBS directly in existing cell culture protocols?
For most standard immortalised cell lines (CHO, HeLa, Vero, HEK293, BHK-21, MDCK, 3T3), CS can be used as a direct drop-in replacement at the same concentration (5–10%). A brief adaptation period of 2–3 passages is recommended to confirm growth kinetics and viability. CS is not recommended for primary cells, stem cells, or applications requiring the specific growth factor profile of FBS.
What is the BSE/TSE status of US Origin Calf Serum?
US Calf Serum is collected at USDA 9CFR licensed facilities and supplied with a 9CFR Certificate of Analysis. The United States has controlled BSE risk status (OIE classification). A TSE/BSE risk assessment statement is available on request for regulatory submissions. For applications requiring negligible BSE risk documentation, consider our Calf Serum Australia Origin.
Is heat inactivation available for Calf Serum US Origin?
Yes — heat inactivation (56 °C, 30 min) is available on request. Heat inactivation inactivates complement proteins and is recommended for complement-sensitive cell culture applications and immunological assays. It is documented in the lot CoA.
What documentation is supplied with Calf Serum US Origin?
Every order includes a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) and the USDA 9CFR CoA. Additional documentation — TSE/BSE statement, Certificate of Origin (CoO), Safety Data Sheet (SDS), sterility and mycoplasma test protocols — is available on request. Products are handled at ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified partner facilities.
Request a Quote or Sample
48h response · EU & Swiss Supply · Batch reservation available · Full documentation
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