Heat-inactivation of serum inactivates the complements in the serum. In general, it is not necessary to use heat-inactivated serum to culture most cell types. We recommend using heat-inactivated serum when working with immune type cells or for immunological applications.
Will improper storage of my tissue culture reagents affect the growth rate of my culture?
Yes. Store animal sera at -5 to -20 degrees C. Store media at 2 to 8 degrees C; use within recommended shelf life period. Store complete media (supplemented) at 2 to 8 degrees C, and for complete medium the recommended shelf life is 2 to 4 weeks. Additionally, minimize exposure of sera and media to light.