RPMI-1640 medium was developed by Moore et al., at Roswell Park Memorial Institute, hence the acronym RPMI. The formulation is based on the RPMI-1630 series of media utilizing a bicarbonate buffering system and alterations in the amounts of amino acids and vitamins. RPMI-1640 medium has been used for the culture of human normal and neoplastic leukocytes. RPMI-1640 when properly supplemented, has demonstrated wide applicability for supporting growth of many types of cell cultures, including fresh human lymphocytes in the 72-hour phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation assay.

There are a variety of formulations:
12-702         - with L-glutamine
BE12-702/U1 - with UltraGlutamineI
BE15-702D    - [powder] with L-glutamine
12-167          - without L-glutamine
12-115          - with L-glutamine and 25 mM HEPES buffer
BE12-115/U1 - with UltraGlutamineI and 25 mM HEPES buffer
04-525          - with L-glutamine and 165 nM MOPS (used for some mycological assays)
09-774          - with L-glutamine, 25 mM HEPES buffer 100 units/ml penicillin, 50 ug/ml streptomycin
12-918          - without L-glutamine or phenol red
BE12-752       - with L-glutamine, without D-glucose

Storage = 2ºC to 8ºC 
  (versions without L-glutamine and those with UltraGlutamine can be stored at 15ºC to 30ºC)

MEM Eagle (also called EMEM) was developed in 1959 for cultivation of HeLa and L cells. Amino acid concentrations conform closely to the protein composition of human cells. Higher concentrations of nutrients permit longer periods between feedings. EMEM has vitamin concentrations 2-5X greater than BME and higher amino acid concentrations than BME. EMEM is suitable for culturing a broad spectrum of mammalian cells.

MEM Eagle is available with Hanks' or Earle's salts.
MEM-Hanks (12-127F or 12-137F) does not a require CO2 enriched atmosphere. 
Joklik's modification is intended for suspension culture.

Storage = 2ºC to 8ºC
                (or 15-30ºC for products 12-125, 12-136, 12-684, 12-668, 12-127 and 12-137)

MEM Eagle is available in several variations:
 - with Earle's BSS
12-611 - with L-glutamine
12-125 - without L-glutamine
12-622 - with non-essential amino acids (NEAA), and sodium pyruvate, without L-glutamine
12-136 - with L-glutamine and HEPES
12-736 - with L-glutamine, HEPES, NEAA, gentamycin, pen/strep, ampB and 2% FBS
12-684 - 10x media without sodium bicarbonate or L-glutamine
12-668 - 2x media without L-glutamine or phenol red (virus plaquing medium)
06-174 - without calcium, with NEAA and L-glutamine

- with Hank's BSS
12-127 - without L-glutamine
12-137 - with HEPES, without L-glutamine

- Joklik's Formulation
04-719