Heat Inactivation of Fetal Bovine Serum

1. Once water bath temperature reaches 56± 2°C, place the serum bottles in the water bath (include control bottle with thermometer to monitor internal temperature of serum).
   
   
2. Set the water bath to agitate or swirl the bottles every 10 minutes to ensure serum remains uniform. NOTE: Agitation prevents gelling and will promote a uniform heating.
   
   
3. When the control bottle reaches an internal temperature of 56± 2°C, begin timer for 30 minutes.
   
   
4. After 30 minutes, remove the bottles and transfer into cooling rack/space. Cool the bottles for at least 1 hour before aliquoting or return to freezer.

What is FBS heat inactivation?
Heat inactivation is a process that involves heating FBS to deactivate complement proteins without compromising the serum's growth-promoting properties.

When Is Heat Inactivation of FBS Necessary?
Heat inactivation aims to destroy complement activity in the serum without impacting its growth-promoting properties. While most cell cultures don't require the removal of complement activity, it is essential for cultures sensitive to it.

How is FBS heat inactivation performed?
The standard method involves heating the FBS at 56°C for 30 minutes while regularly mixing to ensure uniform heating.

Does heat inactivation affect the quality of FBS?
Properly performed heat inactivation should not affect the growth-promoting properties of FBS. However, improper technique can degrade some of the serum's beneficial components.

What are the alternatives to heat inactivation?
Alternatives include using commercially available pre-inactivated FBS or other treatment methods like filtration to remove complement activity.

For more commonly asked questions, go to our FAQ page.