Gibco cell culture bag product photo

Reasons to use cell culture media bags

Gibco universal cell culture bags offer flexible packaging that allows you to integrate a single-use, disposable large volume media container with a wide variety of automated cell culture instruments, disposable bioreactor systems, and sterile connection processes, without the need for costly customization.

Explore the many benefits of using Gibco cell and tissue culture bags in your lab:

  • Disposable bags conveniently pre-filled with Gibco media in a variety of formulations and sizes
  • Specifically designed to increase productivity and reduce costs
  • Easily integrate with most systems: universal design provides multiple connection options
  • Stocked and ready when you need them

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Features and benefits of Gibco cell culture bags

Diagram showing the different tubing and ports on a Gibco universal cell culture media bag

Figure 4.  Four-port design of Gibco culture bag.

Flexible design

Gibco universal cell culture media bags are available with multiple mechanical connection methods that offer:

  • Four-port design flexibility (Figure 4)
    1. Female-threaded Luer
    2. Blood spike
    3. Male-threaded Luer
    4. MPC quick connect
  • Media transfer system versatility—closed system maintained by utilizing three pre-connected C-Flex tubing transfer lines
  • Greater flow rate flexibility through a variety of tubing sizes (ID x OD, below)
    • 1/8” x 1/4” (3.2 mm x 6.4 mm)
    • 3/16” x 5/16” (4.8 mm x 7.9 mm)
    • 3/8” x 5/8” (9.5 mm x 15.9 mm)
  • Compatibility with the most commonly used thermoplastic tubing for sterile and aseptic connection devices
  • Translucent, animal origin-free film
  • Extra long tubing: 40 in (101 cm) workable tubing lengths

Ultralow density polyethylene (PE) contact layers

The product contact layer of the Gibco universal cell culture media bag is ultralow density polyethylene and has the following benefits:

  • Robust, clear, and animal-origin free film
  • Single-ply co-extruded film structure
  • Extremely low extractable and leachable profile
  • Superior gas transmission barrier properties
  • Consistent film across every bag size (1–1,000 L)

Tech summary

Physical propertyDimensionValue (before/after gamma sterilization)*Procedure
Haze%5 / 5ASTM D-1003
Clarity%98 / 98ASTM D-1003
Transmittance%93 / 93ASTM D-1003
Tensile strength at breakMPa14 / 13ASTM D-882
Elongation at break%280 / 300ASTM D-882
Elastic modulusMPa370 / 350ASTM D-882
Break at cold temperatureºCBelow –45 / below –45ISO 8570
Densityg/cm30.9ASTM D-792
Water vapor transmission rate**g/(m2.day)0.35 / 0.32ASTM F-1249
Oxygen permeability**cm3/(m2.day.atm)<0.05 / <0.05ASTM D-3985
Carbon dioxide permeability**cm3/(m2.day.atm)<0.2 / <0.2ASTM F-2476
Film thickness0.325 mm  
*Gamma sterilization dose 25 kGy (except parameters marked ** received 50 kGy)

Conformity specs

TestSpecificationResult
Characters
PassPass
Identification
(A-IR spectrophotometry)
Pass
Pass
Identification
(B-titanium-dioxide)
Pass (≤4%)Pass
C-titanium-dioxide
Pass
Pass
Appearance of solution S1
Pass
Pass
Acidity or alkalinity
≤1.5 mL 0.01 N NaOH
≤1.0 mL 0.01 N HCl
Pass (0.60 mL)
Pass (0.40 mL)
UV absorbance (220-340 nm)
≤0.20
Pass (0.01)
Reducing substances
≤0.5 mL
Pass (0.20 mL)
Extractable aluminum
≤1 ppm
Pass
Extractable zinconium
0.0
≤ 0.1 ppm
Extractable chromium
≤0.05 ppm
Pass
Extractable heavy metals
≤2.5 ppm
Pass
Extractable titanium
≤1 ppm
Pass
Extractable vanadium
≤0.1 ppm
Pass
Extractable zinc
≤1 ppm
Pass
Extractable zirconium
≤0.1 ppm
Pass
Sulphated ash
≤1%
Pass (0.02%)
Substances soluble in hexane
NA
Impracticable
Antioxidants (max. 3)
Pass
Pass
Antioxidants
<0.3%
Pass
Amides and stearates
Pass
Pass

Physiochemical specs

TestMethodSpecificationResult
Nonvolatile residue
USP <661>≤15 mgPass
Residue on ignition
USP <661>≤5 mg
Pass
Heavy metals
USP <661>
<2 ppm
Pass
Buffering capacity
USP <661>
≤10 mL
Pass

Biocompatibility specs

TestMethod
Specification
Result
Elution test
USP <87>Pass
Pass
Systemic injection test
USP <88>Class VI
Pass
Intracutaneous test
USP <88>
Class VIPass
Buffering capacity
USP <88>
Class VIPass

Gas transmission rates

Lower is better
The Gibco PE film demonstrates significantly lower gas transmission rates in comparison to other cell and tissue culture bags on the market.
Bar graph comparing gas transmission rates for Gibco cell culture bags compared to other culture bags on the market
Figure 1.Gas transmission rates of Gibco PE film compared to other culture bags on the market.

Gibco PE film construction

Diagram showing the structure of Gibco PE film 
  1. 50 μm Polyethylene
  2. 10 μm Adhesive layer
  3. 20 μm Ethyl vinyl alcohol (gas barrier)
  4. 10 μm Adhesive layer
  5. 230 μm Ultra low-density polyethylene (contact layer)
Figure 2.Structure of Gibco PE film.

Gibco PE film pH stability

A shelf life stability study was conducted over a 19 month period for CD-CHO, DMEM, and FreeStyle 293. Media packaged in the Gibco PE film remains within pH specification limits.

Three line graphs showing shelf life stability of pH for different types of media packaged in Gibco PE film

Figure 3.Results of shelf life stability study examining pH in CD-CHO, DMEM, and FreeStyle 293 media packaged in Gibco PE film.

Customizable 

Design your own custom solution

Our knowledgeable packaging experts and technical specialists are ready to assist you in:

  • Designing your own custom cell culture bags
  • Achieving efficient, on-site processing capabilities
  • Getting the technical assistance you need, when you need it

In addition, explore our media customization services for information on customized components, packaging, and QC testing.


Order media products in cell culture bags

cell culture media icon GMP manufacturing

Gibco cell culture products are manufactured in facilities compliant with current good manufacturing practices (GMP) and adhere to a robust quality management system, ensuring the consistency, reliability, and high quality you can rely on.

Learn more about GMP manufacturing

leaf icon Sustainable solutions

We are committed to delivering products that serve the research needs of our customers, while striving to develop them in a way that minimizes our use of natural resources and our impact on the environment.

Learn more about sustainable solutions

Resources

Cell Culture & Transfection Learning Center
Access cell culture and transfection educational resources for better experiment planning and execution.

Gibco Cell Culture Basics
Learn the fundamentals of cell culture for achieving consistent results, including laboratory setup, safety, and aseptic techniques.

Media Formulation Tool
Find the right Gibco media formulation for DMEM, DMEM/F-12, MEM, and RPMI-1640 media.

Related products

Support

Cell Culture & Transfection Support Center
Find technical support recommendations for your cell culture and transfection workflows, including tips for experimental setup and in-depth troubleshooting help.

Need technical support? Contact our expert team for technical and application support of Laboratory Products.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

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