Horse Serum – EU Origin
Cost-Effective Alternative to FBS | Perfect for Immunoassays & Blocking | Sterile Filtered
What is Horse Serum (Normal Horse Serum)?
Horse Serum (also called Normal Horse Serum or Equine Serum) is a versatile biological reagent sourced from healthy horses in the EU. Unlike Donor Horse Serum which comes from controlled donor herds, our standard horse serum is collected from broader populations, offering an economical solution for applications where extreme batch consistency is not critical.
Our Horse Serum is sterile filtered (0.2 µm) and sourced from EU-origin horses, making it ideal for:
- Immunoassay blocking buffer (ELISA, Western blot, IHC, IF)
- Antibody diluent in diagnostic applications
- General cell culture as a cost-effective FBS alternative
- Bacteriological media supplement
- Research applications not requiring extreme reproducibility
Horse Serum vs. Donor Horse Serum: Which Do You Need?
| Feature | Horse Serum (This Product) | Donor Horse Serum |
|---|---|---|
| Source | General population | Controlled donor herds |
| Batch Consistency | Good – Tested and certified | ✓ Excellent – Minimal variation |
| Price | ✓ Most economical | Premium pricing |
| Best For | Immunoassays, blocking, general culture | Vaccine production, regulatory work, stem cells |
| Quality Control | ✓ Sterile filtered, tested | ✓ Plus EIA tested, controlled diet |
| Availability | ✓ Excellent – Multiple sources | Good – Specific herds |
| Documentation | COA, MSDS | COA, COO, MSDS + EIA certificate |
• Need maximum reproducibility for GMP/regulatory work? → Choose Donor Horse Serum
• Need blocking buffer or antibody diluent? → Standard Horse Serum is perfect
• Running routine cell culture on a budget? → Standard Horse Serum offers great value
• Culturing hematopoietic stem cells or neuronal cells? → Donor Horse Serum recommended
Product Features & Quality Standards
🇪🇺 EU Origin
Sourced from healthy horses in European Union under veterinary supervision, ensuring quality and ethical standards.
🔬 Sterile Filtered
0.2 µm triple-pass filtration removes bacteria and particulates while preserving proteins and growth factors.
💰 Cost-Effective
40-60% lower cost than FBS with comparable performance in many applications - ideal for budget-conscious labs.
🧪 High Protein Content
Approximately 2x protein concentration of FBS (6.0-8.5 g/dL), making it excellent for blocking applications.
✅ Quality Tested
Every batch tested for sterility, mycoplasma, hemoglobin levels, and total protein content.
📜 ISO Certified
Manufactured under ISO 9001 quality management system with complete documentation (COA, MSDS).
Technical Specifications
Quality Testing
| Test | Method | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sterility | USP sterility test | Negative |
| Mycoplasma | PCR & culture | Negative |
| Hemoglobin | Spectrophotometry | <50 mg/dL |
| Total Protein | Bradford assay | 6.0-8.5 g/dL |
| Endotoxin | LAL assay | <15 EU/mL |
Documentation provided: Certificate of Analysis (COA) and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for every batch.
Primary Applications of Horse Serum
🧪 Immunoassay Blocking Buffer
Most popular use: High protein content (2x FBS) makes horse serum ideal for blocking non-specific binding in ELISA, Western blots, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) applications.
💉 Antibody Diluent
Provides optimal background reduction in primary and secondary antibody incubations across multiple immunodetection platforms.
🔬 General Cell Culture
Cost-effective FBS alternative for CHO, HEK293, Vero, and other established cell lines that don't require extreme reproducibility.
🦠 Bacteriological Media
Suitable as supplement in bacterial culture media and microbiological applications where rich nutrient source is needed.
🔎 Diagnostic Assay Development
Used in development and optimization of various diagnostic tests where consistent but not ultra-premium serum is required.
📚 Teaching & Training
Economical choice for educational laboratories, student training, and protocol development before scaling to premium reagents.
Horse Serum vs. Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)
| Parameter | Horse Serum | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ✓ 40-60% lower cost | Higher cost |
| Total Protein | ✓ ~2x higher (6.0-8.5 g/dL) | Lower (3.0-5.0 g/dL) |
| Growth Factors | Lower concentration | ✓ Rich in growth factors |
| Immunoglobulins | ✓ Higher levels | Lower levels |
| Trace Elements | Lower (may need supplementation) | ✓ Complete spectrum |
| Best For | Blocking, immunoassays, budget culture | Demanding cell culture, primary cells |
| Ethical Concerns | ✓ From adult animals | From fetal sources |
When to Use Horse Serum Instead of FBS:
- ✅ You need blocking buffer or antibody diluent (horse serum is superior due to higher protein)
- ✅ Your cell lines grow well with horse serum (many CHO, HEK293, Vero lines do)
- ✅ Budget constraints are important (significant cost savings)
- ✅ You're working with bovine viruses (horse serum has no bovine antibodies)
- ✅ Ethical concerns about fetal sources
When to Stick with FBS:
- ❌ Culturing fastidious primary cells or stem cells
- ❌ Regulatory submissions requiring validated FBS protocols
- ❌ Cell lines that specifically require high growth factor content
- ❌ When you have an established, optimized FBS protocol
Available Treatment Options
Standard (Sterile Filtered) – Recommended
Our default 0.2 µm sterile filtered horse serum preserves all proteins, immunoglobulins, and growth factors. This is the preferred option for:
- Immunoassay blocking and antibody dilution
- General cell culture applications
- Bacteriological media supplementation
Heat-Inactivated
Heat inactivation (56°C, 30 min) inactivates complement proteins. Choose this when:
- Working with complement-sensitive cells
- Conducting antibody neutralization assays
- Propagating viruses where complement could cause issues
- Running immunological assays where complement interferes
Custom Treatments Available on Request
- Gamma irradiation (additional viral safety)
- Charcoal-stripped (hormone removal)
- Delipidized (reduced lipid content)
- Custom filtration (0.1 µm)
Packaging Sizes & Volume Discounts
Available Sizes
Volume Discounts
We offer attractive tiered pricing for larger orders:
- 5-10 L: 10% discount
- 10-50 L: 15% discount
- 50+ L: Custom pricing – contact us for quote
Storage & Handling
Long-term storage: -20°C (up to 5 years shelf life)
After thawing: 2-8°C, use within 4 weeks
Thawing: Overnight at 2-8°C or 37°C water bath with gentle mixing
Important: Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
🔬 Need Maximum Consistency for Critical Applications?
For vaccine production, GMP manufacturing, hematopoietic stem cells, or regulatory submissions, consider upgrading to our premium Donor Horse Serum from controlled donor herds.
- ✓ Exceptional batch-to-batch consistency
- ✓ Gelded draft horses minimize hormone variations
- ✓ EIA tested with complete documentation
- ✓ Ideal for sensitive cell lines and regulatory work
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose SeamlessBio?
🏆 Quality Assurance
ISO 9001 certified production with rigorous testing protocols and complete batch documentation.
💰 Competitive Pricing
Direct sourcing and efficient operations allow us to offer excellent value without compromising quality.
🚚 Reliable Delivery
Fast shipping across EU on dry ice with temperature monitoring. Most orders ship within 1-2 business days.
🔬 Expert Support
Technical team available to help with application optimization, protocol troubleshooting, and product selection.
📦 Flexible Options
Multiple sizes, treatment options, and custom packaging available to meet your specific requirements.
🌍 EU Origin
All serum sourced from European Union ensuring compliance with EU animal welfare and veterinary standards.