Human Serum, Male Donor — Hormone-Controlled Cell Culture
Human serum from exclusively male donors eliminates the biological variability introduced by female donors. Female donors have cyclically fluctuating levels of oestradiol and progesterone — hormones that directly influence cell proliferation, differentiation, and gene expression. In reproducibility-critical experiments, this hormonal variability can significantly skew results between lots. Male-donor serum removes this confounding factor entirely.
Additionally, female donors who have previously been pregnant may carry anti-HLA antibodies, which can activate T cells in culture — a risk factor (TRALI) that is eliminated with male-only donor pools.
When male-donor serum is specifically required: Reproducibility-critical experiments. Endocrine / hormone signalling research where oestradiol/progesterone background would confound results. CAR-T and NK cell expansion where lot-to-lot consistency is critical. Any application where TRALI risk from anti-HLA antibodies must be excluded.
Why Male Donors Specifically?
| Parameter | Mixed Gender Serum | Male-Only Serum |
|---|---|---|
| Oestradiol / Progesterone | Variable — cyclically fluctuating in female donors | ✅ Baseline only — no cyclic variation |
| Anti-HLA antibodies (TRALI risk) | Possible — from previously pregnant female donors | ✅ Not present — male donors |
| Lot-to-lot consistency | Higher variability from gender-related biochemical differences | ✅ More consistent |
| Regulatory preference (ATMPs) | Accepted | ✅ Preferred for GMP cell therapy |
| Blood group antibodies | Present (unless Type AB specified) | Present (unless Type AB specified) |
Applications
| Application | Why male-only? |
|---|---|
| Hormone/endocrine research | Oestradiol and progesterone in female donor serum confound hormone receptor assays and steroid-sensitive cell lines |
| CAR-T and NK cell expansion | Industry standard — anti-HLA antibodies from female donors can activate T cells and skew expansion outcomes |
| Stem cell culture (iPSC, MSC, HSC) | Hormone variability affects pluripotency markers and differentiation pathways — male serum reduces this confound |
| Reproducibility-critical long-term culture | Multi-week experiments require minimal lot-to-lot variability — male pools are more consistent |
| GMP cell therapy manufacturing | Male donors preferred in ATMP ancillary material to minimise immunological variability in the final product |
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Donor pool | Male donors only |
| Blood type | Mixed (various) — or specify Type AB |
| Processing | Heat inactivated (56°C/30 min) or gamma irradiated (25–45 kGy) |
| Filtration | 0.2 µm sterile filtered |
| Origin | EU and/or US |
| Viral testing | HIV-1/2, HBsAg, HCV, HIV-1 RNA, HCV RNA, HBV DNA |
| Volumes | 100 mL, 500 mL | Bulk on request |
| Storage | −20 °C |
| Documentation | CoA, CoO, MSDS |
Complete Human Serum Portfolio
| Product | Blood Type | Donor | Processing | Primary Use | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Serum | Mixed | Mixed | HI or GI | General cell culture, diagnostics | Shop → |
| Human Serum, Male | Mixed | Male only | HI or GI | Hormone-controlled cell culture | Shop → |
| Human Serum, Type AB | AB | Mixed | HI or GI | Immunoassays, diagnostics | Shop → |
| Human Serum Type AB, Male | AB | Male only | HI or GI | Cell therapy R&D, immune assays | Shop → |
| Human Serum Off-the-Clot | Mixed | Mixed | OTC | Growth factor-rich cell culture | Shop → |
| Human Serum Type AB, Off-the-Clot | AB | Mixed | OTC | Universal donor, growth factor-rich | Shop → |
| Human Serum Type AB, Male OTC | AB | Male only | OTC | CAR-T, NK cells, ATMP — gold standard | Shop → |
Contact: info@seamlessbio.de | +49 851 37932226