Cell culture media, Basal Medium Eagle (BME)

Basal Medium Eagle is principally used for monolayer diploid or primary cell cultures. It is the simplest of the basal media with all essential components for growth. BME ideally supports cell lines such as HeLa, L-cells and primary mammalian fibroblasts. BME has also successfully been used for the growth of human transformed cell lines (particularly WI-38 and MRC-5).

 : Please note that BME contains Earle's salts as a buffer, it should therefore be used in an environment containing 5 to 10% CO₂ in order to maintain physiological pH.