Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) often contains the antibiotic tetracycline (tet) and researchers using very sensitive tet-inducible gene expression systems encounter problems with unintended expression as a result. Serum containing minimal levels of tetracycline is needed to ensure accurate gene expression. The tetracycline test is performed either with the ELISA method or bioassay methodology techniques. The limit of detection is approximately 5µg/ml.
FBS Uses: Cell culture applications using tet-inducible gene expression systems, any other application in which the presence of tetracycline would prove disruptive.