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A Detailed Guide to Serum Handling and Precipitates

Release time：

2024-09-04

In cell culture, serum quality can, to a certain extent, determine the success of the culture. If precipitates appear in the serum, it is natural to worry whether they will cause problems for the cells. Below are several points on serum handling and serum precipitates:

Precautions for Use:

1. Before use, carefully check that the product appearance is intact, with no damage or leakage.

2. Serum should be stored at temperatures below -15 °C to avoid high temperatures affecting serum quality.

3. During use, strictly follow the relevant experimental procedures to avoid contamination.

Precipitates in Serum:

Precipitates in serum are a normal phenomenon, not contamination, and do not affect serum quality - the serum can be used with confidence. Most precipitates are bovine-derived proteins such as fibrin and lipoproteins.

Main Causes of Protein Precipitation:

1. Storage time: freshly produced serum has no precipitate; the longer it is stored, the more precipitate forms;

2. Temperature changes: drastic temperature fluctuations, especially rapid warming after cold storage, may cause precipitation.

How Do Serum Precipitates Affect Cell Culture?

Precipitation is a normal characteristic of serum. Our tests and cell culture experience show that serum precipitates do not affect cell culture.

How Should Precipitates in Serum Be Removed?

If precipitates have formed and need to be removed, aliquot the serum into sterile centrifuge tubes and centrifuge at 400-1000 g for 5-10 min, then use the supernatant.

How to Avoid Precipitation in Serum:

1. During thawing, invert and gently swirl the serum to make the temperature and composition uniform, reducing flocculent precipitate;

2. Do not thaw serum directly from -20 °C to 37 °C; too large a temperature difference easily causes protein precipitation. It is recommended to first move the serum from the freezer to a 2-8 °C refrigerator to partially thaw (no more than 24 hours), then place it at room temperature to thaw completely;

3. Never incubate serum at 37 °C to thaw it, as this will produce precipitate;

4. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles during use;

5. If one bottle cannot be used up at once, aseptically aliquot the serum according to single-use volumes and store frozen;

6. Unless necessary, do not heat-inactivate the serum, as this tends to increase precipitate;

7. After thawing, serum should not be left at room temperature for long periods (over 6 h). If not used up at once, store it promptly in a 2-8 °C refrigerator.


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