Basal Medium Eagle (BME)
Basal Medium Eagle (BME)
Gibco™

Basal Medium Eagle (BME)

Basal Medium Eagle (BME) is a widely used synthetic basal medium for supporting the growth of many different mammalian cells.Read more
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Catalog number 21010046
Price (USD)
39.78
Each
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Price (USD)
39.78
Each
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Basal Medium Eagle (BME) is a widely used synthetic basal medium for supporting the growth of many different mammalian cells. BME was originally developed by Harry Eagle for HeLa cells and mouse fibroblasts, when he discovered the minimum requirements for cell growth in vitro. BME has since been used for other human lines, including WI-38 and MRC-5.

This BME is manufactured as follows:

  • With: Phenol Red
  • Without: L-glutamine, HEPES

The complete formulation is available.

BME contains eight B vitamins, the ten essential amino acids, plus cystine, tyrosine, and glutamine. There are a number of modifications of BME: Minimal Essential Medium, Glasgow's Medium and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium. This BME formulation contains Earle's salts for use in a CO2 incubator.

BME contains no proteins, lipids, or growth factors. Therefore, BME requires supplementation, commonly with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). BME uses a sodium bicarbonate buffer system (2.2 g/L) and therefore requires a 5-10% CO2 environment to maintain physiological pH.

For Research Use or Further Manufacturing. Not for diagnostic use or direct administration into humans or animals.
Specifications
Cell LineHeLa, mouse fibroblasts, WI-38 and MRC-5
ClassificationAnimal Origin-free
Concentration1 X
FormLiquid
Product TypeBasal Medium Eagle (BME)
Shelf Life12 Months From Date of Manufacture
SterilitySterile-filtered
With AdditivesLow Glucose, Phenol Red
Without AdditivesNo Glutamine, No HEPES, No Sodium Pyruvate
Green FeaturesSustainable packaging
Manufacturing QualitycGMP-compliant under the ISO 13485 standard
Product LineGibco™
Quantity500 mL
Shipping ConditionRoom Temperature
Unit SizeEach
Contents & Storage
Storage conditions: 2-8°C. Protect from light
Shipping conditions: Ambient
Shelf life: 12 months from date of manufacture

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How long can I keep my media after supplementing with serum?

Generally speaking, media can be used for up to three weeks after supplementation with serum. There are no formal studies to support this, but it is the rule of thumb used by our scientists.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Mammalian Cell Culture Basics Support Center.

My medium was shipped at room temperature but it is supposed to be stored refrigerated. Is it okay?

We routinely ship media that require long-term storage in the refrigerator at room temperature. We have done studies on representative media formulations to show that media can be at room temperature for up to a week without a problem.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Mammalian Cell Culture Basics Support Center.

How can I remove mycoplasma contamination from my cell culture medium?

Very often mycoplasma contamination cannot be removed from the culture so it should be discarded. You may have a unique culture that you prefer not to discard and would like to try to clean it. Ciprofloxacin and Plasmocin have reportedly been used for this application. If interested in a protocol or directions for use, check with the antibiotic supplier or published literature. Note that mycoplasma are very difficult to remove from culture and spread easily so the treated cultures should be quarantined until clear of mycoplasma, and your laboratory should be thoroughly cleaned.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Culture Support Center.

I see a decrease in growth of my culture. What should I do?

Try changing the medium or serum. Compare media formulations for differences in glucose, amino acids, and other components. Compare an old lot of serum with a new lot. Increase initial cell inoculums. Lastly, adapt cells sequentially to new medium.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Culture Support Center.

My cells are not adhering to the culture vessel. What should I do?

This can occur if cells are overly trypsinized. Trypsinize for a shorter time or use less trypsin. Mycoplasma contamination could also cause this problem. Segregate your culture and test for mycoplasma infection. Lastly, check for attachment factors in the medium.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Culture Support Center.

View all Basal Medium Eagle (BME) FAQs