Low serum media refers to a type of cell culture medium that contains reduced levels of serum, a component derived from blood, typically fetal bovine serum (FBS), used to support the growth and survival of cells in vitro. Serum, being rich in various nutrients, growth factors, hormones, and other biomolecules, is commonly added to culture media to provide necessary supplements for cell proliferation and viability.
The purpose of using low serum media is to minimize the reliance on serum while still maintaining optimal conditions for cell growth. This strategy is employed to overcome some of the drawbacks associated with high serum concentrations, such as the potential batch-to-batch variability, high cost, potential contamination, and the presence of undefined components that can interfere with experimental reproducibility and accuracy.
Low serum media are usually supplemented with defined additives, such as specific growth factors, hormones, amino acids, vitamins, and trace minerals, to compensate for the reduced serum content. These additives are carefully selected based on the specific cell type and experimental requirements to promote cell viability, maintain specific cell functions, and support the intended research outcomes.
Using low serum media can be particularly beneficial in applications that demand high reproducibility, such as drug discovery and toxicology studies, as well as in studies that aim to investigate cell behavior and responses under more controlled conditions. By minimizing the reliance on serum while still providing essential nutrients, low serum media provide an alternative approach to support cell growth and maintain experimental consistency in a controlled laboratory environment.
