VACCINE

Developments In Biological Standardization • 1991
Viral contamination of fetal bovine serum
used for tissue culture: risks and concerns
Author information
Erickson GA1, Bolin SR, Landgraf JG.
Rollins Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Raleigh, NC 27605
Abstract
Four viral contaminants have been routinely detected in unprocessed and commercial
lots of fetal bovine serum: bacteriophage, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis,
parainfluenza-3 and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Of those, BVDV
is consistently present in a majority of commercial lots of fetal bovine serum.
Methods for BVDV detection and removal are reviewed. The tentative role of
an unclassified pestivirus in microcephaly of infants has been reported. Its significance
remains uncertain.
“Four viral contaminants have been routinely detected in
unprocessed and commercial lots of fetal bovine serum:
bacteriophage, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis,
parainfluenza-3 and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV).
Of those, BVDV is consistently present in a majority of
commercial lots of fetal bovine serum. Methods for BVDV
detection and removal are reviewed. The tentative role of
an unclassified pestivirus in microcephaly of infants has
been reported. Its significance remains uncertain.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1665460