ABM Reagents

<h2 data-section-id="1h8mvlk" data-start="0" data-end="45">What are primary cell culture medium kits?</h2>
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Primary cell culture medium kits are complete, ready-to-prepare culture systems that combine a cell-type-specific basal medium with the supplements required for optimal growth and maintenance of primary cells. Unlike purchasing media, serum, growth factors, and antibiotics separately, these kits provide all components in validated proportions, ensuring that the medium performs as intended for a specific primary cell type.
A typical kit includes a basal medium, a cell-specific growth supplement, an antibiotic component where appropriate, and fetal bovine serum (FBS) or an equivalent supplement when required. The components are designed to be combined directly according to the manufacturer's instructions, reducing preparation errors and improving consistency between experiments.
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<h2 data-path-to-node="5">What you will find:</h2>
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Tissue-specific primary cell culture medium kits
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Specialized growth media for endothelial and epithelial cells
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Workflow systems for thawing, plating, and maintenance of hepatocytes&nbsp;
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Differentiation media for progenitor and stem cells&nbsp;
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Serum-free bioprocessing and cryopreservation reagents
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Targeted fibroblast, smooth muscle, and myocyte growth kits
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<h2 data-section-id="1nip7jz" data-start="1066" data-end="1116">How to choose a primary cell culture medium kit</h2>
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Match the kit to the cell type
Primary cells have highly specialized nutritional and signaling requirements. Kits are available for endothelial cells, hepatocytes, astrocytes, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, stem cells, and many other cell types. Selecting a kit specifically designed for the target cell type is essential for maintaining normal cellular function and morphology.
Serum-containing vs. serum-free formulations
Traditional kits often include FBS as a source of growth factors and nutrients. Serum-free and xeno-free kits replace animal-derived components with defined supplements, reducing variability and supporting applications that require animal-component-free culture conditions.
Complete kit convenience
Most kits provide all major components needed to prepare complete culture medium. This eliminates the need to source multiple reagents individually and helps ensure that supplements are used at the correct concentrations.
Antibiotic inclusion
Many primary cell culture kits include antibiotics to reduce contamination risk during routine culture. However, some specialized formulations, particularly those designed for immune cells and mononuclear cells, are intentionally supplied without antibiotics because these additives can influence cellular responses and experimental outcomes.
Storage and preparation
Kit components are typically stored separately until needed. Basal media and supplements are usually refrigerated, while serum components may require frozen storage before use. Once mixed into complete medium, shelf life is generally shorter than that of the individual components, making it advisable to prepare only the amount needed for near-term use.
Specialized differentiation systems
Some kits are designed not only for maintenance but also for cellular differentiation. These systems may include multiple supplements added sequentially throughout a protocol to guide stem cells or progenitor cells through defined developmental stages.
<h2 data-section-id="dydsco" data-start="3131" data-end="3173">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-section-id="1fljvas" data-start="4061" data-end="4086">Specifications context</h2>
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Primary cell culture medium kits are commonly supplied in a format consisting of a basal medium bottle accompanied by concentrated supplements and serum components that are added directly before use. This approach simplifies preparation while ensuring that all components have been optimized and tested together.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us" title="Contact the expert team at MBP">Contact the expert team at MBP</a> today and get optimized primary cell culture medium kits for your lab.

Primary Cell Culture Medium kits

Flyer

Hepatocyte Growth Medium Kit

Hepatocyte Growth Medium Kit (TM103) by Applied Biological Materials is an antibiotic-free kit (TM103 basal medium 500 ml + TM103-S supplement mix) validated for ABM's Enhanced Primary Human Hepatocytes (T5995 and T5996). May become more opaque after mixing — expected. Complete medium expires 30 days post-supplementation. Store basal at 4–8°C; supplement at –20°C.

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Shipping Condition

Hepatocyte Induction & Expansion Medium Kit

Hepatocyte Induction &amp; Expansion Medium Kit (TM115) by Applied Biological Materials is a PriGrow X Series antibiotic-free kit (TM115-C basal medium 500 ml + TM115-C-S supplement mix) for hepatocyte induction and expansion from stem or progenitor cells. May become more opaque after mixing — expected. Complete medium expires 30 days post-supplementation. Store basal at 4–8°C; supplement at –20°C.

Hepatocyte Maintenance Medium

Hepatocyte Maintenance Medium (TM089) by Applied Biological Materials is a 250 ml proprietary sterile ready-to-use medium for long-term in vitro maintenance of hepatocytes after the plating phase, supporting CYP activity, ADME assays, and hepatotoxicity studies. Replace TM088 after attachment. Lot-tested. Store at 2–8°C.

Caution

Hepatocyte Maturation Medium Kit

Hepatocyte Maturation Medium Kit (TM116) by Applied Biological Materials is a PriGrow X Series antibiotic-free kit (TM116-C basal medium 500 ml + TM116-C-S supplement mix) for in vitro hepatocyte maturation and functional maintenance. May become more opaque after mixing — expected. Complete medium expires 30 days post-supplementation. Store basal at 4–8°C; supplement at –20°C.

Hepatocyte Plating Medium

Hepatocyte Plating Medium (TM088) by Applied Biological Materials is a 250 ml proprietary sterile ready-to-use medium for initial in vitro plating and attachment of hepatocyte cells. Use before switching to Hepatocyte Maintenance Medium (TM089). Lot-tested for sterility, pH, osmolality, and endotoxin. Store at 2–8°C.

Hepatocyte Thaw Medium

Hepatocyte Thaw Medium (TM081) by Applied Biological Materials is a 100 ml serum-free, protein-free, antibiotic-free bio-preservation medium for cold storage and shipping of primary hepatocytes and tissues. Also available with Percoll (TM082). Lot-tested for sterility, pH, osmolality, and endotoxin. Store at 2–8°C.

Hepatocyte Thawing Medium (with Percol)

Hepatocyte Thawing Medium

Hepatocyte Thawing Medium (TM102) by Applied Biological Materials is a 50 ml ready-to-use sterile medium optimized for thawing ABM's Enhanced Primary Human Hepatocytes (Cat. No. T5995 and T5996). Preserves hepatocyte viability and attachment. Do not freeze-thaw. Store at 2–8°C.

Human Endothelial Cell Growth Medium Kit

Human Endothelial Cell Growth Medium Kit TM104 (ABM) — 500 ml basal + antibiotic-free supplement mix. For HUVEC, HAEC, HMVEC culture. QC tested. Complete medium stable 30 days post-supplementation. Store basal 4–8 °C; supplement −20 °C.

Shipping Conditions

Human Epithelial Cell Growth Medium Kit

Human Epithelial Cell Growth Medium Kit (TM106) by Applied Biological Materials is an antibiotic-free kit (TM106 basal medium 500 ml + TM106-S supplement mix) formulated for optimal human epithelial cell growth under 5% CO₂. May become more opaque after mixing — expected. Complete medium expires 30 days post-supplementation. Store basal at 4–8°C; supplement at –20°C.

<h2 data-section-id="3d1466" data-start="0" data-end="47">What are cell culture buffers and solutions?</h2>
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Cell culture buffers and balanced salt solutions are isotonic solutions used to wash, dilute, transport, and temporarily maintain cells outside of complete growth media. Unlike culture media, these solutions do not contain the nutrients and growth factors required for cell proliferation. Instead, their primary role is to maintain physiological pH and osmotic balance while protecting cells from stress during handling and experimental procedures.
The most commonly used cell culture buffers include PBS (Phosphate-Buffered Saline), DPBS (Dulbecco's Phosphate-Buffered Saline), HBSS (Hank's Balanced Salt Solution), and EBSS (Earle's Balanced Salt Solution). These solutions are widely used in cell washing, passaging, tissue dissociation, sample preparation, immunoassays, and short-term cell maintenance.
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<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
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<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Standard Isotonic Buffers to wash cells, maintain osmotic balance, and dilute reagents.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Biological Buffering Agents for metabolic support and pH maintenance.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Cell Dissociation &amp; Neutralizing Reagents maintain high cell viability and are used for cell recovery, detachment, and passaging</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Surface Coating &amp; Matrix Solutions with high-grade gelatin for improved cell attachment.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Insulin-Transferrin-Selenite (ITS), Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), and high-purity Holo-Transferrin for enhanced cell growth and viability</li>
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<h2 data-section-id="1cuz7jf" data-start="1165" data-end="1216">How to choose cell culture buffers and solutions</h2>
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PBS vs. DPBS PBS is a simple sodium chloride/phosphate buffer solution. DPBS adds potassium chloride and may include calcium, magnesium, glucose, and pyruvate depending on formulation. The practical difference between PBS and DPBS formulations is minimal &mdash; both maintain pH 7.2-7.4 and osmolality ~280-315 mOsm/kg and are functionally interchangeable for standard washing, immunoassay, and sample preparation applications. If your protocol is sensitive to minor salt concentration differences, compare specific formulation sheets rather than assuming equivalence. &nbsp; Calcium/magnesium-free vs. calcium/magnesium-containing Calcium and magnesium facilitate cell-cell and cell-surface adhesion. Calcium/magnesium-free PBS, DPBS, or HBSS is required: before enzymatic dissociation (residual Ca/Mg inhibits trypsin, requiring more enzyme and harsher conditions &mdash; the most common cause of poor trypsinization results), for rinsing EDTA or other chelators from culture, and for minimizing cell-cell aggregation during gentle dissociation or suspension recovery. Calcium/magnesium-containing formulations support cell binding and clumping, useful for transport applications or attachment-dependent procedures. &nbsp; HBSS/EBSS vs. PBS/DPBS for short-term maintenance HBSS and EBSS include sodium bicarbonate buffering and may include glucose, providing meaningfully better short-term physiological support for cells &mdash; particularly under CO₂ atmosphere &mdash; than the simpler PBS/DPBS formulations. Use HBSS/EBSS when cells need to remain viable for a meaningful period outside complete growth media (tissue dissociation workflows, transport, short-term holding). Use PBS/DPBS for washing steps, immunoassay/Western blot dilutions, and sample preparation where osmotic balance &mdash; not metabolic support &mdash; is the requirement. &nbsp; Phenol red and glucose/pyruvate variants DPBS and HBSS are available with or without phenol red and with or without glucose/pyruvate, allowing matching to downstream applications (phenol red-free for fluorescence work; glucose/pyruvate-containing for short-term metabolic support). &nbsp; Endotoxin and quality testing Regular quality testing of balanced salt solutions includes osmolality, pH, stability, and screening for endotoxins and bacterial/fungal contamination. For immune cell handling and other endotoxin-sensitive applications, premium formulations document endotoxin levels below 0.005 EU/mL &mdash; a meaningfully tighter specification than standard research-grade buffers. &nbsp; Powder vs. liquid format Powdered balanced salt solutions are manufactured without sodium (to avoid sodium bicarbonate off-gassing during storage), requiring sodium bicarbonate addition, pH adjustment, and sterile filtration at time of preparation &mdash; following the same principle as powdered classic media.Specifications context
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<h2>Specifications context</h2>
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Most balanced salt solutions are formulated to maintain physiological conditions with a pH of approximately 7.2&ndash;7.4 and osmolality ranging from about 280&ndash;315 mOsm/kg. These properties help minimize osmotic stress and maintain cell viability during handling.
Calcium- and magnesium-free DPBS remains one of the most commonly specified buffers for cell dissociation workflows because it improves the effectiveness of trypsin and other detachment enzymes. HBSS and EBSS continue to be widely used when short-term metabolic support is required outside complete growth media.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team</a> at MBP today to get high-purity buffers and solutions for your lab.

Buffers & Solutions

Buffers/Salts

Human Holo Transferrin

G599 by Applied Biological Materials (ABM) is Human Holo Transferrin from human plasma, supplied as a lyophilized powder (100 mg). Purity >98%; single homogeneous batch; heat treated at 62°C ± 2°C for 10 hours. Used to support cell proliferation of K562, HUT-78, RAJI, and JARKUT cells. Store at 2–8°C; stable 1 year from receipt.

Usage

Human Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cell Media Kit

Human LSEC Media Kit TM112 (ABM) — 500 ml basal + antibiotic-free supplement. For ongoing culture of Enhanced Primary Human Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells (T5997). Medium may become more opaque after supplementation — expected. Do not freeze. Store 2–8 °C. Use with TM111 for thawing. RUO.

Human Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cell Thawing Medium

Human LSEC Thawing Medium TM111 (ABM) — 50 ml ready-to-use thawing medium optimized for Enhanced Primary Human Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells (T5997). QC tested. Do not freeze. Store 2–8 °C. Use with TM112 for ongoing LSEC culture. RUO.