RPMI-1640 was developed in 1967 by Moore et al. at the Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) in Buffalo, New York, USA. RPMI is a series of cell culture media developed by the institute, with 1640 being the specific medium designation. RPMI-1640 is an improved version of McCoy's 5A medium, utilizing a bicarbonate buffering system. Unlike most mammalian cell culture media, it features a characteristic pH 8 formulation. Originally designed specifically for lymphocyte culture, RPMI-1640 is now widely used for culturing various normal and cancer cells, particularly suspension cells, making it one of the most extensively employed media.

This product contains multiple components essential for cell culture, including amino acids, vitamins, and inorganic salts. However, it does not contain proteins, lipids, or any growth factors. Therefore, this product must be used in combination with serum or serum-free additives.