Phosphate Buffered Salts, Dulbecco's Formula (DPBS) is a balanced salt solution (BSS) used for the handling and culturing of mammalian cells. DPBS is used to irrigate, wash, and dilute mammalian cells. Phosphate buffering maintains the pH in the physiological range. Calcium and magnesium facilitate cell binding and clumping. DPBS without these ions can be used to wash and rinse suspended cells.