RPMI-1640 was developed for the cultivation of normal and neoplastic human leukocytes and is based on modified amounts of amino acids and vitamins. RPMI-1640 Medium is very well suited for culturing of a wide range of mammalian suspension cell lines and primary lymphocytes, all leucocytes, B- and T-lymphocytes, as well as myeloma- and hybridoma cells.

Generally, FBS is added to RPMIl media. However, it has been shown that RPMI media also support several cell lines in the absence of serum.

This modification of RPMI contains L-glutamine, but no pyruvate.