FBS
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Fasting blood sugar |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical, Sports, Science & Engineering |
FBS has three meanings. The most common are Fasting blood sugar (laboratory test) and Football Bowl Subdivision (American football); it can also stand for Fetal bovine serum.
Meanings of FBS at a glance
| # | FBS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fasting blood sugar | Medical › Laboratory Test |
| 2 | Football Bowl Subdivision | Sports › American Football |
| 3 | Fetal bovine serum | Science & Engineering › Biology |
1. Fasting blood sugar
Medical · Laboratory Test Abbreviations
Blood glucose measured after at least eight hours without calories, used to screen for and diagnose diabetes. Normal is about 70 to 99 mg/dL; 100 to 125 mg/dL indicates prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose), and 126 mg/dL or higher on two occasions meets the American Diabetes Association criterion for diabetes.
Example: FBS 131 and 128 on two visits, so diabetes education and metformin were started.
Guidelines use the more precise term fasting plasma glucose (FPG). To convert to mmol/L, divide mg/dL by 18, so the diabetes threshold of 126 mg/dL corresponds to 7.0 mmol/L. Water is allowed during the fast. In the UK and India FBS is widely used on lab forms alongside PPBS (post-prandial blood sugar).
2. Football Bowl Subdivision
Sports · American Football Abbreviations
Top level of NCAA Division I college football, with about 136 teams, including the members of the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC. Its champion is decided by the College Football Playoff rather than an NCAA-run tournament.
Example: The school announced its move from FCS to FBS starting with the 2026 season.
Called Division I-A until 2006, when the NCAA renamed its two football tiers. FBS programs were long limited to 85 full scholarships; the 2025 House settlement replaced scholarship caps with a roster limit of 105. Members must meet minimum attendance and scheduling requirements.
3. Fetal bovine serum
Science & Engineering · Biology Abbreviations
Serum collected from the blood of bovine fetuses at slaughter, added at typically 5-10% to culture media because it supplies growth factors, hormones and proteins that help animal cells grow. It is the most widely used supplement in cell culture.
Example: Cells were maintained in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS and 1% penicillin-streptomycin.
Also called fetal calf serum (FCS). Batches vary in composition, which can affect experimental reproducibility, and ethical and supply concerns have spurred development of serum-free media. FBS must be heat-inactivated for some uses to destroy complement proteins.
Related abbreviations
More laboratory test abbreviations
- eGFR – Estimated glomerular filtration rate
- ELISA – Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- ESR – Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- FBC – Full blood count
- FDP – Fibrin degradation products
- FLP – Fasting lipid panel
- FT4 – Free thyroxine
- GFR – Glomerular filtration rate
See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →
More American football abbreviations
- DT – Defensive tackle
- EPA – Expected points added
- FA – Free agent
- FB – Fullback
- FCS – Football Championship Subdivision
- FF – Forced fumble
- FG – Field goal (American football)
- FS – Free safety
See all 80 American football abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.