You Can Improve the Performance of CO2 Incubator
The design of a CO 2 incubator is critical to culture growth. Culture growth is optimal when the incubator properly blends these elements: CO 2 gas, temperature, air quality, and relative humidity. The precision with which these elements are combined will determine how effective the growth environment shall be. Other factors, such as the incubator’s location in the laboratory, the continuity of an electrical source, contamination, vibration, and routine maintenance are equally important to successful cell growth
Location in the Laboratory
Improper placement within the laboratory will degrade an incubator’s performance. Keep windows in the laboratory closed if they are present. Incubators should be located away from air in lets, so they are not affected by changing airflows. Adequate clearance around the incubator should be available for service and electrical safety testing. A chamber should never need to be moved for these tasks.
Continuity of an Electrical Source
The most effective incubators are often those that have the most consistent power source. The electrical supply circuit must conform to all national and local electrical codes. Surge protectors are strongly recommended to prevent voltage spikes from permanently damaging the electronics. The power source must be grounded, and voltage should vary no more than 5% to provide consistent electricity to the incubator.
Potential for Room Contamination
Chamber temperature is controlled by one of three designs: waterjacket, airjacket, or directheat. Whether or not a fan is used to exchange air will not significantly improve or degrade performance when the door is opened. A rapid exchange of air and humidity between the chamber and the surrounding room occurs when the incubator door is opened. At this time, the air from the surrounding room may contaminate the incubation chamber. Air will circulate amid the chamber and the room until air pressure, temperature, humidity, and CO 2 are equalized.
HEPA Filters Improve Air Quality
Air is constantly moving because the chamber walls are being actively heated. Humidity systems, such as water pan (passive), or injection (active) create additional movement and currents within the chamber. Exposure to fungi and bacteria will stay limited so long as the chamber door remains closed. Contaminants are readily introduced into the chamber whenever the door is opened. In this situation, contaminants that enter the chamber will be circulated throughout the incubator.
Cleaning Helps Prevent Contamination
Routine cleaning is vital to preventing contamination within the growth chamber. Interior components should be designed to minimize the time, effort, and risk of contamination during cleaning. Fan housings, plenums, shelves, shelf supports, and the waterpan should be removable without the use of additional tools, and placed in an autoclave for sterilization. Isopropyl Alcohol can be easily used to disinfect chamber walls and rounded, crevicefree corners. The HEPA filter, housing, plenums, shelves, and brackets should be able to remain in place during a heatdecontamination cycle, if the incubator has such an option.
Conclusion
It is imperative that personnel are aware of all factors that can enhance the performance of today’s high energy, dynamic laboratories. Choosing a proper location for equipment, making sure facilities have an adequate electrical power supply, maintaining equipment, and stressing the importance of weekly cleaning and decontamination to personnel will not only deliver dividends, but also improve the quality of cell culture growth.
Air quality within a CO 2
Incubator is also critical to both cell growth and research. Take advantage of creating an environment where clean, HEPA filtered air is continuously provided to the growth chamber, and CO 2 gas, temperature and relative humidity are optimized.
Fonte: Nuaire USA.
