Characterization of fetal bovine serum obtained from the meat industry for cell culture

The present work aims to characterize a fetal bovine serum (FBS) obtained from the meat industry for use in cell culture. FBS is the most widely used supplement for cell culture since its complex composition provides the necessary nutrients for the growth of most cells. It is a by-product of the meat industry, and its availability and production depend mainly on two uncontrollable external factors, climatic conditions and changes in beef consumption. According to the strict quality features of the International Serum Industry Association (ISIA), tests for total proteins, osmolarity, presence or absence of pathogenic biological agents, pH, DNA concentration, biological contaminants, negative results, and cell viability were performed. The characterization of the serum in the DNA and total protein concentration tests showed significant differences. Additionally, osmolarity and pH did not present significant differences between groups. Regarding the viability test, no complication for cell growth was observed despite the differences found in the characterization. The results showed that the serum obtained from the meat industry could maintain cell cultures and allow cell proliferation compared to commercial serum. Furthermore, if FBS is not available, some kinds of plasma can be used as a surrogate to maintain cell cultures.