The importance of the laboratory incubator
A laboratory incubator is a piece of scientific equipment that is designed to keep samples or specimens in very specific environmental and atmospheric conditions.
Controlling conditions, such as temperature, humidity, oxygen, and carbon dioxide concentration, for example, mean that the chemical or biological processes in the samples can take place within the desired conditions, with the least disturbance from unaccounted influences.
As such, anything laboratories need to study, from microbiological samples to cell cultures and everything in between can be left to progress as needed for study, without the worry of contamination.
How does a laboratory incubator keep samples safe?
A laboratory incubator looks much more like a cabinet than a neonatal incubator but has much the same aims.
Instead of warming newborn or premature infants, laboratory incubators provide a safe environment in which cultures can be incubated and stored while growth is encouraged and measured.
Structurally, laboratory incubators can be either larger freestanding models or smaller, countertop-sized models and include a stainless-steel interior with epoxy painted steel exteriors.
Their steel construction allows lab technicians to keep equipment sterile by frequent cleaning, without the evidence of mechanical strain and damage that can come with cleaning and disinfection.
Laboratory incubators include a range of features that ensure the temperature and viability of samples, including:
Tempered glass viewing windows
Glass viewing windows allow laboratory technicians to conduct visual inspections or counts of samples without needing to open the door and disrupt conditions.
Pre-programmable warm temperatures ranging from ambient to 70°C
This allows samples to be kept at a stable temperature, higher than ambient, to encourage growth - be that at normal or increased rates.
Temperature precision of between +/- 0.1 to 0.5°C, depending on the model
Accurate temperature control ensures the viability of more delicate samples and means specific tests involving temperature change can be carried out with ease.
A large capacity range, from 30 to 763 Litres, or larger, depending on the model
Laboratory incubators are available in a range of models, from under-counter to freestanding single or double units, which come with their own capacities – ideal for laboratories of all sizes.
Optional extras
Common optional extras are available on all models (just ask when enquiring) and include:
Fume or smoke extraction units
Overheat alarms
Bespoke stands
USB ports for easier data retrieval and storage
Touch screen controllers
What projects require a laboratory incubator?
Although the needs of every laboratory will differ, generally laboratory incubators can be used for a range of possible projects, including:
Incubating samples for microbiological examinations
Analysing thermal resistance on pigment, lacquer, or other similar samples
Antibody testing
Bacterial research
Crystallisation studies
The cultivation of thermophilic bacteria
Denaturalising tests for the food industry
Microbiological contamination determinations
Pharmaceutical stability testing
What did people do before a laboratory incubator?
Prior to their introduction during the second half of the 20th century, early incubators frequently consisted of a lit candle under a bell jar and a dry, heated oven.
Within the jar, the cultures were stored near the flame on the underside of the jar’s lid and the entire jar was then placed in a pre-heated oven!
This system is considered the first incubator for the medical field and allowed for the development of medical advancements, which maintained cell culture stocks and eventually helped diagnose patients.
Modern laboratory incubators are now much more precise and allow technicians greater control, keeping samples safe from contaminants that could hinder or even harm growth or affect results, while also keeping them within the optimal bounds for multiplication.
Contact QED Scientific for laboratory incubators
With a wide range of laboratory products, from laboratory incubators and industrial ovens to climatic chambers, cooled incubators to laboratory fridges and freezers, we can help you restock existing laboratories or set up new labs.
We can provide bespoke quotes or simply offer industry-leading advice as and when needed.
To ask any questions or enquire about our product range, you can send us an email or give us a call today and we’ll get back to you to help in any way we can.