heat inactivation of serum - cell culture (Feb/07/2011 )

Hello,

I am working with blood cells, and in this case it is important to inactivate the serum to be used in the culture. My colleague did that at 37°C. Does this ensure the inactivation? I see that many people do it at 56°C for 30 mins.

Thanks in advance

Hussein

37 is not enough - otherwise the serum would be inactivated in a normal animal (cows also function at about 37). 56 deg C for 45 minutes is how I have always done it.

bob1 on Tue Feb 8 22:23:21 2011 said:

It depends on what you are working with, but the serum contains a bunch of stuff from the blood that can cause activation of things like the complement cascade if you are working with immunogen responsive cells such as lymphocytes.