2-3% fetal calf serum in cell media is sufficient for development and growth of human mononuclear cell cultures

It is a common practice that 10-20% fetal calf serum (FCS) is being used in the cell culture media for development and maintaining of human mononunclear cells as well as other cell cultures. FCS is produced with a painful process for animals and is one of major cost factor. The reduction in volume of FCS can make it less unethical and reduce the costs strongly. Therefore 2-3% FCS is used in development of different mononuclear cell cultures and different parameters like morphology, production of antibodies, isolation of DNA/DNA and magnetic beads cell isolations were tested. It was found that there was no difference between 10% FCS and 2-3% FCS containing media in the above said parameters. More than hundred such cell cultures were developed and many of them were maintained more than 3 years. Conclusion is that 2-3% FCS is sufficient for development and maintaining of human mononuclear cell cultures.