FAQ
What is Human Platelet Lysate?
Human Platelet Lysate (HPL) is a human-derived cell culture solution manufactured from platelets (thrombocytes). As a forward-looking cell culture supplement, Human Platelet Lysate supports in vitro cell expansion. Compared with other cell culture supplements, our xeno-free product platform unites efficiency and safety like no other solution. The Human Platelet Lysate platform named ELAREM™ covers all cell expansion needs. Imagine one technology supporting academic research as well as cell therapy – that is what ELAREM™ stands for. The combination of tailored solutions for different application fields enables an easy transition from bench to bedside.
Sustainability is the keynote of our ELAREM™ technology: The human platelets we reprocess to manufacture our products are recovered from blood donations. Platelets are obtained from healthy donors at licensed blood centres and admitted for transfusion. Due to patient safety reasons, platelets are not allowed for transfusion longer than several days. Instead of being disposed, we process unexploited platelet units. That is the starting point of a recycling process ending up in our ELAREM™ products.
Why should I change from FBS to your Human Platelet Lysates?
Replacing animal sera, e.g. FBS (Fetal Bovine Serum), by Human Platelet Lysate allows for cell expansion as well as clinical cell manufacturing. The elimination of xenogeneic risks and potential bovine prion transmission significantly extends the application possibilities. Our Human Platelet Lysates are standardized and safe cell culture supplements ensuring high cell performance rates and reproducible results.
With our ELAREM™ platform technology, we follow the mission to support bench experiments as well as clinical applications. All with one solution and without animal suffering.
Furthermore, Human Platelet Lysate contains abundant platelet-derived growth factors and cytokines, which stimulate cellular proliferation and maintain differentiation potential. Changing from FBS to Human Platelet Lysate has the advantage that most cells proliferate faster, resulting in a greater number of cells in a shorter time. Moreover, tedious batch testing is eliminated. Large batch sizes ensure consistent products and, as a result, reproducible cell culture conditions. So there is no need to stock up the freezer in advance. Working with Human Platelet Lysate saves you time and money.
Discover our FBS alternative ELAREM™ Prime that perfectly suits the needs of FBS users.
What should I consider if I want to change from FBS to Human Platelet Lysate?
There are no restrictions if you switch from FBS (Fetal Bovine Serum) to Human Platelet Lysate. You can change directly to Human Platelet Lysate, without the need of a sequential adaption of the cells to the new supplement. The high amount of growth factors and bioactive molecules in Human Platelet Lysate enables a direct replacement.
Our brand-new FBS alternative ELAREM™ Prime perfectly suits the needs of FBS users. ELAREM™ Prime is the world’s first Human Platelet Lysate directly comparable with FBS – in terms of price and cell performance. This enables the simplest switch ever from animal serum to animal-free media. (Usually, Human Platelet Lysate enhances cell proliferation significantly compared with FBS.)
The only thing that could occur whilst the first 2 passages, is a slight downturn in cell number (depending on cell type). Some cells briefly need to adapt to the changed supplement. After maximum 2 passages, you will be rewarded with fast cell proliferation.
Which cell types can be cultivated with Human Platelet Lysate?
Due to the high amount of growth factors and cytokines, our Human Platelet Lysates are predestined to expand numerous human and animal primary cells and immortalised cell lines.
Since we take our customers’ feedback seriously, we have created a Cell Database for Human Platelet Lysate. In this database, we collect the knowledge about the performance of our products on various cell types. If you have a question regarding a specific cell type or cell line, please let us know. We will then share (anonymous) information.
How much Human Platelet Lysate should I use?
We recommend a concentration of 10% (vol./vol.) Human Platelet Lysate in the cell culture medium. Our experience has shown that this concentration generally achieves best results. However, the final concentration of Human Platelet Lysate in the cell culture medium can vary depending on cell type and experimental conditions. We recommend to determine the optimal concentration for the cells of interest. Some of our customers even use less than 5% (vol./vol.) Human Platelet Lysate and are very satisfied with the cell performance.
Product-related questions
Why is it necessary to add an anticoagulant with some of your Human Platelet Lysates?
Our products are manufactured from human platelets. Those raw platelets contain coagulation factors, including fibrinogen, to react to a bleeding by initiating a blood clot. We differentiate between fibrinogen-containing and fibrinogen-depleted Human Platelet Lysates:
ELAREM™ Prime and ELAREM™ Perform retain some of the fibrinogens. Adding an anticoagulant to the medium prevents clotting reactions in the final culture medium.
We also offer fibrinogen-depleted Human Platelet Lysates: ELAREM™ Perform-FD, ELAREM™ Perform-FD PLUS and virus-inactivated ELAREM™ Ultimate-FDi. It is not required to add an anticoagulant if using one of these Human Platelet Lysates. ELAREM™ Perform-FD PLUS is the newest addition to our portfolio: a fibrinogen-depleted and anticoagulant-free Human Platelet Lysate of EU origin.
Which fibrinogen-depleted Human Platelet Lysates do you offer?
You have the choice between three fibrinogen-depleted Human Platelet Lysates. It is not required to add anticoagulants if using one of these Human Platelet Lysates.
LAREM™ Perform-FD PLUS is the newest addition to our portfolio: a fibrinogen-depleted and anticoagulant-free Human Platelet Lysate of EU origin. Due to a unique fibrinogen-depletion technique, the product neither requires the addition of anticoagulants in cell culture nor during manufacturing. That makes ELAREM™ Perform-FD PLUS a ready-to-use Human Platelet Lysate that is widely applicable, since the absence of anticoagulants offers even more convenient cell growth conditions.
ELAREM™ Perform-FD is a fibrinogen-depleted Human Platelet Lysate of US origin. Due to the fibrinogen-depletion process, ELAREM™ Perform-FD does not require anticoagulant addition. As a result, application workflows are simplified. Traces of a xeno-free anticoagulant may be present in the Human Platelet Lysate.
ELAREM™ Ultimate-FDi is a fibrinogen-depleted and virus-inactivated Human Platelet Lysate of US origin. The final product is gamma-irradiated in order to comply with the highest safety guidelines for clinical applications. Due to the fibrinogen-depletion process, ELAREM™ Ultimate-FDi does not require anticoagulant addition. Traces of a xeno-free anticoagulant may be present in the Human Platelet Lysate.
Do you offer any virus-inactivated Human Platelet Lysates?
Yes, we do. Our fibrinogen-depleted Human Platelet Lysate ELAREM™ Perform-FD is also available as a virus-inactivated version, named ELAREM™ Ultimate-FDi. This virus-inactivated product complies the high safety guidelines for cell expansion in clinical and therapeutic environments.
After thawing the Human Platelet Lysate, I observe particulate formation/turbidity. What does that mean?
After thawing the Human Platelet Lysates, you may observe insoluble particles or turbidity in the products. Don’t worry! Particulate formation or turbidity are natural phenomena and do not affect cell culture performance. We have measured the function and can assure that there is no effect on the results.
If insoluble particles are disturbing for individual use cases, we recommend to remove particles by centrifugation of the pure Human Platelet Lysate.
Which of your products are xeno-free?
Our ELAREM™ product platform is completely xeno-free. That goes along with our mission to offer animal suffering-free cell culture media. We think there is no need to use animal-derived cell culture media.
Are the ELAREM™ Human Platelet Lysates sterile?
Yes, our ELAREM™ Human Platelet Lysates undergo a sterile filtration during production and each batch is tested for sterility and released, if the test is passed.
What is the difference between Research and GMP Grade ELAREM™ Human Platelet Lysate?
Both, our Research Grade and GMP Grade Human Platelet Lysates are manufactured under GMP clean room conditions. The difference lies in the more comprehensive amount of product testing and documentation which is necessary to approve the product for clinical use.
What is ELAREM™ Matrix Kit?
ELAREM™ Matrix Kit is our innovative and patent-protected two-phase cell culture system based on Human Platelet Lysate. ELAREM™ Matrix Kit provides an animal component-free cell culture scaffold for 2D and 3D applications. The kit consists of ELAREM™ Matrix, a unique Human Platelet Lysate gel, and ELAREM™ Accelerator, a xeno-free additive inducing instant scaffold gelation. This combination enables the three-dimensional embedding of cells within the gel scaffold as well as the two-dimensional cell seeding on a viscous surface. Cells can grow in several layers at the interface layer, which minimises contact inhibition with any artificial biomaterials.
Discover our ELAREM™ Matrix Kit.
For what kind of applications is ELAREM™ Matrix Kit suitable?
ELAREM™ Matrix Kit covers numerous 2D and 3D cell culture applications. The patent-protected technology is both a nutrient source and a viscous scaffold in one – resembling the natural cell environment. That enables the three-dimensional embedding of cells within the gel scaffold as well as the two-dimensional cell seeding on a viscous surface. 3D bio-printing and coating cover some of the potential use cases.
Can I use ELAREM™ Matrix Kit for clinical trials?
Not yet. Our cell culture matrix is applicable for non-GMP cell expansion purposes. However, we are working on a GMP Grade version of ELAREM™ Matrix Kit to provide you a cell culture matrix for pre-clinical research and clinical applications.
How long can your frozen Human Platelet Lysates be stored?
Our products are stable until the expiry date stated on the product label.
Our Human Platelet Lysates need to be stored frozen at -40°C to -20°C until used.
General questions
How can I place an order and how long is the delivery period?
You can find an overview of all products via our product page. Please send us a request for the required product. As soon as we have processed your request, you will receive our quote.
How much are the shipping costs for international orders?
Additional costs (shipping, duties, import taxes or charges) may become payable in case of deliveries abroad.
In order to make sure the concrete amount of your delivery including shipping costs, please send us a request. You will then receive our quote including the shipping costs.
I need a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) – how do I get it?
Usually, we send a CoA directly with all GMP Grade products. Or you can request a CoA via our Technical Support indicating the appropriate product and lot number.
Is your Quality Management System certified?
Yes, our Quality Management System is ISO 9001:2015 certified by TÜV Rheinland.
If you have any questions regarding our Quality Management System, please contact us.
How do you provide a steady quality of your products and services?
We work with an ISO 9001:2015 certified Quality Management System to safeguard work processes and procedures. Our Quality Management System provides a framework for measuring and improving our performance.
We are committed to offering and manufacturing safe products for research and GMP conform uses. To ensure our high quality, we monitor our suppliers, measure quality objectives, carry out regular audits of our internal processes, provide training for our employees etc. Our internal procedures are reviewed regularly.
If you have any questions regarding our Quality Management System, please contact us.
