What is a Laboratory Incubator?
A laboratory incubator provides uniform heat and temperature control to create a suitable environment for the growth of various microorganisms and bacteria. This device is one of the essential tools in pharmaceutical, diagnostic, microbiology, biology, cellular, and various industries, including food, oil and gas, cosmetics, and research centers such as agriculture. Incubators are essential for many experimental tasks in cellular biology, microbiology, and molecular biology and are used for culturing bacterial and eukaryotic cells.
Incubator Temperature
The simplest incubators are insulated boxes with adjustable heaters, usually increasing temperatures to 60-65°C (140-150°F). However, some incubators can reach up to 100°C. The most commonly used temperature for bacteria such as E. coli and mammalian cells is approximately 37°C (99°F), as these organisms thrive under such conditions. For other organisms used in biological experiments, such as some yeasts, the optimal growth temperature is 30°C (86°F).
Types of Laboratory Incubators
Incubators are classified into industrial, medical, and laboratory categories. In laboratory settings, different types of incubators are used, including standard or thermal incubators, refrigerated incubators, CO2 incubators, and shaking incubators.
Standard or Thermal Incubator
These devices operate within a temperature range of 30 to 70°C and are the most common type of incubators. They are primarily used for cultivating and maintaining bacterial and microbial cultures under specific temperature conditions. Thermal incubators are designed for growing microorganisms that thrive at 37°C and above, such as most pathogenic bacteria. Some incubators are also used for culturing mammalian cells.
The HCT technology in incubators ensures uniform temperature distribution inside the chamber, which is crucial for their application. Additionally, an essential feature in incubators is a DUAL SAFETY system, which prevents sudden temperature fluctuations that could interfere with laboratory experiments.
Refrigerated Incubator
These incubators typically provide a temperature range of -5 to +70°C and are used for storing and researching samples that require lower temperatures. Refrigerated incubators are designed to maintain and grow microorganisms in a controlled environment with uniform temperature distribution.
A key advantage of FG refrigerated incubators is their thermal stability and temperature uniformity across 27 points in the chamber, ensuring consistency in experiments. Another significant feature is NON-CUT technology, which ensures temperature stability even during cooling. Due to their cooling capability, they are sometimes referred to as cooling incubators or laboratory refrigerators.
CO2 Incubator
These incubators are used in applications requiring high precision in temperature control and environmental gas composition, particularly for culturing animal or human cells and tissues under conditions mimicking the body’s natural environment. CO2 incubators regulate temperature and pH while maintaining an environment rich in CO2 to support cell growth.
Since cold-blooded organisms’ body temperature adjusts to the surrounding environment, CO2 incubators play a crucial role in maintaining the necessary temperature outside the body. This is essential for sustaining cellular growth and conducting biological experiments.
Shaking Incubator
Shaking incubators include a built-in shaker that continuously mixes samples during the incubation process. They are particularly useful for culturing microorganisms and cells that require high oxygen levels and constant agitation.
FG shaking incubators stand out with their modern design, intelligent digital control board, seven-inch LCD display, touch buttons, exceptional temperature accuracy, and unique CMT technology. Additionally, they can be connected to a chiller circulator for cooling purposes.
Infant Incubator
An infant incubator is a specialized device used for newborn intensive care. It provides a controlled and isolated environment that regulates temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels to facilitate medical care and monitoring for newborns.
Applications of Laboratory Incubators
Laboratory incubators play a vital role in scientific and biological research. They are indispensable for researchers and experts across various fields. Some key applications include:
- Cell and Tissue Growth: Incubators create the ideal conditions for maintaining and growing living cells and tissues by regulating temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors.
- Microbiological Research: Incubators provide a controlled environment for cultivating and studying bacteria and microorganisms.
- Biochemical Experiments: Many biochemical tests requiring precise environmental conditions rely on incubators, including enzyme production and protein structure analysis.
- Quality Control and Product Testing: In industries such as food and pharmaceuticals, incubators help conduct quality inspections and product testing.
- Genetic and Molecular Research: Incubators are essential for experiments involving DNA, RNA, and protein analysis, requiring specific environmental conditions for cell and bacterial cultures.
Incubators are available in forced convection (fan-assisted) and gravity convection models and are manufactured in 55, 120, 240, and 400-liter capacities to provide maximum temperature accuracy and uniformity.
Smart Laboratory Incubators
The FG smart laboratory incubator is a three-layered incubator with highly precise temperature control. Its advanced thermal controller operates with an accuracy of 0.1°C and features unique HCT technology.
The FG Smart Monitor software allows users to remotely monitor and control the incubator via the internet. The wireless connectivity and AI-based fuzzy logic control ensure unparalleled precision in temperature stability and real-time monitoring.
Advantages of Smart Incubators:
✔ Higher precision and control: Ensures stable and uniform temperature for incubation.
✔ Programmable features: Allows users to set temperature, humidity, gas concentration, and time parameters.
✔ Data recording: Logs critical parameters such as temperature and humidity for analysis.
✔ Enhanced safety: Equipped with advanced safety systems to prevent accidents.
✔ Network connectivity: Can be integrated into laboratory computer networks for remote monitoring.
Key Factors for Choosing a Laboratory Incubator
When purchasing a laboratory incubator, consider the following factors:
✔ Capacity: Ensure it meets the required sample storage needs.
✔ Temperature range: Choose an incubator that suits the type of cultures and experiments being conducted.
✔ Temperature precision and uniformity: Critical for reliable results.
✔ Safety features: Advanced models have built-in safety mechanisms to prevent temperature fluctuations.
✔ Connectivity options: Smart incubators can integrate with lab networks for remote monitoring.
✔ Price: Consider the balance between features, brand, and cost.
✔ Warranty and support: Always check for manufacturer warranties and after-sales services.
Thermal Incubators and Temperature Accuracy
FG thermal incubators are available in both forced convection (fan-assisted) and gravity convection models (series CF and CM, including models CM55, CM120, CF240, and CF400) and come in 55, 120, 240, and 400-liter capacities. They ensure maximum temperature accuracy and uniform heat distribution throughout the chamber.
Temperature accuracy in FG incubators is determined by factors such as controller precision, uniform heat distribution, and temperature fluctuation. According to the DIN 12880 standard, temperature accuracy refers to temperature uniformity, fluctuation, and controller precision. The FG incubator controllers operate with an accuracy of 0.1°C.
37°C Incubators
Laboratory incubators generally allow temperature settings between 5°C above ambient temperature to 80°C. However, since 37°C is the most commonly used temperature, many refer to these devices as 37-degree incubators.
Key Features of Laboratory Incubators
✔ Durable outer body: Made of powder-coated steel for longevity.
✔ Stainless steel inner chamber: Ensures easy cleaning and safety.
✔ Intelligent microprocessor-based controller: Provides superior temperature stability.
✔ Ventilation system: Removes excess humidity and prevents condensation inside the incubator.
Buying a Laboratory Incubator
When purchasing a laboratory incubator, uniform temperature distribution is crucial. If temperature variation occurs across different points inside the chamber, it can disrupt experiments. To ensure uniformity, some incubators use circulating fans, but factors such as fan type, heating element placement, air circulation design, and airflow channels all impact overall temperature uniformity.
By considering these factors, researchers can select the most accurate, efficient, and reliable incubator for their specific needs.
