| Serum Modification | Heat Inactivated |
| Region of origin | - |
| Volume | 100 ml |
Newborn Calf Serum (NBCS) is collected from calves between 3 and 10 days old. It can be used as a high-grade substitute for Fetal Bovine Serum. The heat inactivation process inactivates the complement system, antibodies, and other active enzymes. In comparison to Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), Bovine Calf Serum, obtained from animals that are not more than 12 months old, and Newborn Calf Serum contain more immunoglobulins and have an increased protein content.
They are cost-effective alternatives to FBS. As mentioned before, heat inactivation leads to the inactivation of the complement system, antibodies, and other active enzymes. It has to be done in a carefully controlled process to avoid damaging cell growth-promoting properties of the serum and to reduce the formation of unwanted precipitates.
The process involves heating the serum in a shaking water bath at precisely +56 °C for 30 minutes. The shaking helps to avoid the formation of proteins and other forms of precipitates. After 30 minutes, the serum is cooled back down to room temperature as quickly as possible to avoid excessive exposure to heat, which can damage components such as growth factors and vitamins.