Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)
Fetal bovine serum sourced standardly from South America — with alternative origins (Australia, US, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand) on request — processed and quality-controlled in Germany. Nine specification grades — Standard, Premium, Low Endotoxin, Ultra Low IgG, Low IgG, Heat Inactivated, Gamma Irradiated, Tet-Free and ES Cell Pre-Tested — with full batch documentation, batch reservation and no minimum order quantity for pharma, biotech, CRO and academic research.
Buy fetal bovine serum (FBS) from EU stock
Request a quote or a free test sample – EU stock, no minimum order, lot reservation up to 36 months.
Flexible Sourcing, Made in Germany
Standardly sourced from South America, with alternative origins on request. Processed, filtered and quality-controlled in Germany, with full CoA, CoO and TSE/BSE documentation.
Nine Specification Grades
From cost-effective Standard to specialised Ultra Low IgG and ES Cell Pre-Tested grades, matched to your exact application.
No Minimum Order
Flexible packaging sizes and batch reservation, with no MOQ — suitable for both research-scale and production-scale demand.
Cold-Chain Delivery
Temperature-controlled shipment across the EU and UK, with mycoplasma and BVDV testing on every batch.
Fetal bovine serum for every stage of cell culture
Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), also known as fetal calf serum, is the most widely used serum supplement in mammalian cell culture, providing growth factors, hormones and nutrients that support reliable cell proliferation. SeamlessBio sources FBS standardly from South America — with alternative origins available on request — and processes every batch in Germany across nine specification grades, so you can match serum quality precisely to your application — from routine cell expansion to GMP-adjacent biopharmaceutical and ATMP-related workflows.
Because endotoxin levels, IgG content, and viral inactivation status all affect downstream cell behaviour differently, choosing the correct FBS grade is a core part of assay reproducibility and regulatory documentation, not just a sourcing decision.
Typical applications
- Routine mammalian cell culture and expansion
- Hybridoma and monoclonal antibody production
- Stem cell and iPSC culture
- Vaccine production and biopharma research
- ATMP-related and cell therapy workflows
- CRO and contract research applications
FBS Specification Grades — Overview
Choose the grade matched to your application. Pricing, batch availability and full documentation are available on request.
FBS Standard
Cost-effective choice for routine cell culture and robust cell lines.
Learn more →FBS Premium
Superior growth performance for stem cells and sensitive cell types.
Learn more →FBS Low Endotoxin
For sensitive cell culture, ATMP-related and biopharma workflows.
Learn more →FBS Ultra Low IgG
For hybridoma and monoclonal antibody production, IgG <5 µg/mL.
Learn more →FBS Low IgG
Cost-effective IgG reduction for general antibody-related work, <200 µg/mL.
Learn more →FBS Heat Inactivated
Complement-inactivated for immunological and sensitive assays.
Learn more →FBS Gamma Irradiated
Additional viral inactivation for GMP-adjacent workflows.
Learn more →FBS Tet-Free
For tetracycline-inducible expression systems.
Learn more →FBS ES Cell Pre-Tested
Pre-screened for embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell culture.
Learn more →Which FBS grade fits your application?
All nine grades at a glance. Each row links to the full specification.
| Grade | Key feature | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| FBS Standard | Cost-effective, proven quality | Routine cell culture, robust cell lines |
| FBS Premium | Superior growth performance | Stem cells, sensitive cell types |
| FBS Low Endotoxin | Reduced endotoxin level | Sensitive cultures, ATMP-related and biopharma workflows |
| FBS Ultra Low IgG | IgG <5 µg/mL | Hybridoma and monoclonal antibody production |
| FBS Low IgG | IgG <200 µg/mL | General antibody-related work on a budget |
| FBS Heat Inactivated | Complement inactivated | Immunological and sensitive assays |
| FBS Gamma Irradiated | Additional viral inactivation | GMP-adjacent workflows |
| FBS Tet-Free | Free of tetracycline residues | Tet-On / Tet-Off expression systems |
| FBS ES Cell Pre-Tested | Pre-tested on ES and iPS cells | Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells |
Not sure which grade you need? Ask us for test samples from a batch that can be reserved for you.
Batch reservation for reproducible results
Batch-to-batch variation is one of the most common causes of inconsistent cell culture results. That is why we work in three steps:
- You test samples from a specific batch.
- We reserve the matching batch for your project.
- You call off the batch flexibly as you need it.
Reservation period and volume are agreed individually with you.
More about batch reservation →Alternatives to FBS
Not every application needs animal serum. For xeno-free protocols and ATMP manufacturing we offer:
Frequently asked questions about fetal bovine serum
Are FBS, FCS and FKS the same?
Yes. FBS (fetal bovine serum), FCS (fetal calf serum) and the German term FKS (fötales Kälberserum) all describe the same product: serum obtained from the blood of bovine fetuses.
How much does fetal bovine serum cost?
The price depends on grade, origin, volume and whether a batch is reserved. We prepare an individual quote for you at short notice, with no minimum order quantity.
How is FBS produced?
Blood is collected from bovine fetuses during the slaughter of pregnant cattle, processed into serum, pooled and sterile filtered. Each batch is then tested, including for mycoplasma and BVDV.
Which FBS grade do I need?
FBS Standard is sufficient for routine culture. For antibody production choose Low or Ultra Low IgG, for immunological assays heat-inactivated FBS, and for stem cells Premium or ES Cell Pre-Tested FBS.
Do I need to heat-inactivate FBS?
Only if the complement system interferes with your work, for example in immunological assays. For most routine cell culture, heat inactivation is not required.
How should FBS be stored?
FBS is stored frozen. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, ideally by preparing aliquots. The exact storage conditions are stated in the documentation for each batch.
What is the difference between FBS and calf serum?
Calf serum (CS) comes from young calves after birth. It contains more IgG and fewer growth factors than FBS and is more economical for robust cell lines.
Need a specific FBS grade or batch?
Contact our team for batch availability, specifications, documentation, test samples and delivery options across all FBS grades.
Contact UsRelated products & protocols: 0.1 µm vs 0.2 µm sterile filtration · Serum heat inactivation protocol
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