In-vitro researchers need solid models that provide reliable results.
To cultivate cells for this research, foetal calf serum is often added
to the growth medium to promote cell growth. However, the use of
foetal calf serum has come under scrutiny recently due to concerns
about the quality of research results and the welfare of both the
pregnant cows and the calves. When a pregnant cow is slaughtered,
blood is taken from the foetus of the unborn calf.
To do this, the whole uterus containing the foetus is separated
for blood extraction. During the production process, serums
from a large number of foetuses are mixed together.
Serums from different groups of calves form different batches.
As no two foetuses are identical, substantial differences exist
between batches and the quality is not consistent.
Therefore, every new batch must be validated.
Despite this validation, the use of a new batch of foetal
calf serum can affect research results, impacting replication,
reproducibility and reliability. Individual researchers are not
always aware of these concerns, although institutions such
as the OECD and the FDA advise against using foetal
calf serum for this reason, as well as for other reasons.
Furthermore, we have very little insight into animal welfare
both prior to and during the collection of foetal calf blood.
Firstly, we cannot conclusively prove whether and how
much the unborn calves suffer during the extraction of blood.
We definitely cannot say for sure that they feel no pain.
Secondly, the blood is collected in slaughterhouses all over the
world, often with insufficient monitoring of animal welfare.
We do not know how much care is taken during the procedure,
how much legislation is in place at the local level and to what
degree it is complied with. Primary responsibility for animal
welfare is borne by the governments of the countries in which
the slaughterhouses are based. However, all of us in the chain
have a role to play – from regulators to scientists and from
suppliers to financiers and policymakers. Replacing foetal
calf serum is the right decision from both an ethical and a
scientific perspective. Awareness of the effects that
foetal calf serum can have in terms of both animal
welfare and scientific reliability is vital.
Alternatives are already available and new alternatives
are being created all the time, which are certainly worth
investigating. You can find more information about
alternatives to foetal calf serum via the website fcs-free.org.
If you are setting up a new research project,
why not make it serum free?
Are you are working on an ongoing project?
Then why not conduct pilots with serum-free or alternative
growth media for the purposes of comparison and share your
results with other researchers (e.g. via fcs-free.org)?