Biochrom GmbH liquid, and powdered cell culture media are standardized according to the original formulation as recommended by the "Tissue Culture Association".

Quality of chemicals used meet in general the standards "pro analysi", and "Ph.Eur.", resp. Any modifications from the original formulation are indicated on the label (e.g. w/o NaHCO₃).

Defined cell culture media generally consist of four basic chemical groups: amino acids, carbohydrates, anorganic salts, and vitamins.

Flavin in cell culture media

All commercially available cell culture media do contain 0.01 to 0.4 mg/l riboflavine (except for Leibovitz L-15). However, flavines serve as potent photo sensibilisators, even if exposed to visible light. Absorbed light energy will be transferred by this sensibilisator to oxygen molecules. Unsaturated organic substrates may react with formation of toxic hyper- and peroxides, if exposed to this aggressive form of oxygen.

To avoid this harmful effect on the media quality, media may be packed either in PET bottles featuring a UV barrier. Hence the riboflavin content of many Biochrom GmbH media is limited to 0.05 mg/l as a preventive measure.