SeraCare Launches Unique PCR-Tested Fetal Bovine Serum

SeraCare Life Sciences has announced the launch of SeraSure® FBS, a cell culture Fetal Bovine Serum PCR-tested negative for BVD. SeraSure FBS offers significant advantages for laboratories conducting cell culture research and for vaccine manufacturers.

“The presence of BVD (bovine diarrhea virus) in bovine serum presents a substantial risk for both researchers and companies developing vaccines for human and animal health,” said Tina Patel, Associate Technical Product Manager, SeraCare Life Sciences. While FBS providers have historically assured customers that their serum is tested for BVD, those results are sometimes not always conclusive. As a result, many customers opt to use chemical or irradiation processes to inactivate the virus, adding time and expense to their projects and potentially affecting downstream applications. “SeraCare minimizes these issues by using advanced polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to demonstrate a lack of BVD in our bovine serum and by reporting those results to the customer,” Patel explained. SeraCare employs PCR testing at both the collection pool stage and the finished goods stage, with serum collected from dedicated harvest facilities to ensure high quality and consistency across lots.

Customers are able to test and sample multiple lots prior to purchase to ensure the right fit for their particular assay, and can obtain SeraSure FBS in large lots to meet high-volume research needs. Upon request, SeraCare will reserve SeraSure FBS in customer-specified quantities while lots are being sampled, to ensure a readily available supply when needed.

SeraCare offers a variety of custom processing options for all of its FBS products to meet each customer’s specific research needs and goals. Processing options include dialysis, charcoal stripping, heat treatment and validated gamma radiation. SeraCare also offers the flexibility to obtain SeraSure FBS in various fill sizes and to source lots from multiple locations globally, including the U.S., Canada, Central America, Australia and New Zealand.

SeraSure FBS is designed to meet or exceed industry standards, complying with International Serum Industry Association (ISIA) guidelines, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations, and ISO 9001 standards. It is the newest offering in the SeraCare line of animal-derived products for cell culture, research and manufacturing applications. The product line also includes cell culture grade FBS, equine and goat serum, and rabbit gamma globulin derived from rabbit serum.

SeraSure FBS is available immediately worldwide for more information please follow the link on the company article page.