Choosing the right incubator for your research needs can be a confusing process no matter what your laboratory setup; which is why at Sheldon we do our best to guarantee customers have all the tools they need to make an informed decision when the time comes to buy. We want customers to purchase the right incubator to help keep their samples safe, contaminant free, and capable of producing reliable results every time.

And it’s also why we were so pleased when we were asked to contribute an article to Lab Outlook Magazine, a digital supplement to the popular Laboratory Equipment Magazine. The article, “Practice Safe Specimen Storage,” is featured in November’s issue of the publication and covers many of the important factors to consider when deciding which incubator to buy, including:

• Incubator size, stability and uniformity
• Antimicrobial effects of copper
• Water jacket vs. air jacket insulation

The article also incorporates a new video featuring President Dan Sheldon and Product Design Engineer Pradeep Muppala as they discuss product features of the SHEL LAB General Purpose Incubators.

Both the article and the video are great resources for anyone considering a new incubator, so be sure to read the entire article in this month’s Lab Outlook Magazine and view our new video on the Sheldon Manufacturing YouTube channel!

Sheldon Manufacturing has been building the SHEL LAB line of incubators and ovens for over 40 years. Learn more about our CO2 Incubators, forced air laboratory ovens, Bactron Anaerobic Chambers and more at our online store!

Sheldon Manufacturing has spent 40 years providing high-quality vacuum ovens, lab incubators and other equipment for use in industrial, clinical and laboratory applications, and making sure our customers have the reliable tools they need is our biggest priority. Which is why at Sheldon we love to hear back from the customers who use our products every day—like Université de Montréal Professor, Dr. Roger Lippé. Dr. Lippé works in the Cell Biology Research department and recently shared his experience using the SHEL LAB 3552 laboratory incubator:

The SHEL LAB 3552 incubator is the Cadillac in tissue culture equipment. Conveniently sized, with an appealing look, a sensitive infrared CO₂ sensor and possibility to stack them, it perfectly fulfills all our needs. Unlike many competitors, it provides true sterilization with a unique 180^oC decontamination cycle. An important bonus is the ability to do so without removing the IR sensor, hence simplifying the procedure and minimizing the risk of damage. Other instruments either offer half measures (e.g. 90^oC decontamination that takes 1-2 days to complete) or complex options that are more likely to break, be expensive to repair and in some cases not as efficient (e.g. peroxide injection, plasma sterilization, UV). Moreover, these alternative sterilization techniques, designed for heat sensitive hospital equipment, are not necessary for tissue culture. Effective simplicity is always the best option.

Another strong advantage of SHEL LAB incubators is the unusually long warranty on the incubator (5 years) and IR sensor (7 years). No competitor offers such an excellent warranty. This is particularly important in view of the high costs of labor to repair scientific equipment, potentially saving hundreds to thousands of dollars. Another important characteristic is the quick recovery following the opening of the door. This provides for a more stable environment, a critical aspect of cell culture that reflects a very careful design of the instrument. Naturally, a constant and uniform temperature and humidity throughout the incubator is equally important when the door is closed.

-Dr. Roger Lippé, Université de Montréal

Thank you, Dr. Lippé! We always love to hear stories from our customers—and we’d love to hear from you, too. What do you think about your SHEL LAB vacuum oven, incubator, or humidity cabinet? Have you had a noteworthy experience using a SHEL LAB product? How about during the purchase process? We want to hear about it! If you would like to share your SHEL LAB experience with us, drop us an email today, we may just share it with our other customers! Stay tuned for more stories from real-life SHEL LAB customers!

Protect your cells!  Minimize the threat of surface contamination with copper’s natural bactericidal and fungicidal properties: SHEL LAB now offers copper shelves for use in our CO2 incubators.

Laboratory testing has shown that when cleaned regularly, Antimicrobial Copper surfaces:

1. Continuously reduce bacterial* contamination, achieving 99.9% reduction within two hours of exposure;
2. Kill greater than 99.9% of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria* within two hours of exposure;
3. Deliver continuous and ongoing antibacterial* action, remaining effective in killing greater than 99.9% of bacteria* within two hours;
4. Kill greater than 99.9% of bacteria* within two hours, and continue to kill 99% of bacteria* even after repeated contamination; and
5. Help inhibit the buildup and growth of bacteria* within two hours of exposure between routine cleaning and sanitizing steps.”**”

*Testing demonstrates effective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE), Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

**The use of an Antimicrobial Copper surface is a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices, including those practices related to cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces. The Antimicrobial Copper surface material has been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but it does not necessarily prevent cross contamination.

Copper shelves are now available on SHEL LAB incubator models:  3503, 3517, 3524, 3552, 2406, 2406/2, and 5215

If you are attending Pittcon we welcome you to stop by our booth 3717.  We will have some equipment on hand, including the GI2 from our line of Laboratory Incubators.

March 8-13, 2009 · Pittcon®2009 · Chicago, IL, USA- McCormick PL

http://www.pittcon.org/ for more info.

Check out Shel Lab’s new General Purpose Incubator brochure. It includes detailed specifications, information, and product photos of our extensive line of general purpose laboratory incubators. Shel Lab general purpose laboratory incubators include large capacity and specialty refrigerated units like the LI Fly, Drosophila specific refrigerated incubators. Continued customer support is vital to Shel Lab’s success, so delivering updated product brochures is important to us. You can find a full list of the SHEL LAB General Purpose Incubator family and SHEL LAB Refrigerated Incubators in our product catalog.

Perhaps no where better than in a laboratory does the old axiom apply that the better tool you have, the better job you can perform. And the better the results will be. Laboratory equipment, particularly controlled temperature equipment, must help ensure that the environment in which specimens or cell cultures are being studied is safe and contaminant-free, and that, above all, study results are reliable.

CO2 incubators are a popular choice

One of the essential pieces of controlled temperature equipment in any laboratory is an incubator. These days, the CO2 incubator is among the most prevalent type. In most laboratories, technicians mainly are growing or sustaining mammalian cells. CO2 incubators are intended for tissue and cell culture applications. These incubators work on three building blocks: carbon dioxide (CO2) temperature and relative humidity (RH). The laboratory technician or scientist using a CO2 incubator is trying to replicate the mammalian environment (in-vivo), outside (in-vitro) of its natural state. The incubator allows these elements to work together to create an ambient environment for cells to thrive. The result is a balanced controlled pH (7.2 – 7.4); stable temperature – 37 C; high relative humidity – 95%; and controlled CO2 level – 5%.

Air-jacket vs. water-jacket: both offer benefits

The water-jacketed CO2 incubator envelopes the unit’s chamber, providing superior insulation while eliminating contamination and cold spots. In addition, the water-jacket is surrounded by insulation, which makes the incubator ideal for maintaining precise conditions. These essential conditions are why water-jacket technology was first invented and remains the standard in tissue/cell culture today.

Similar to the water-jacketed incubator, an air-jacket CO2 incubator has a heated inner chamber that is controlled by sophisticated microprocessors. These microprocessors constantly monitor and adjust program settings and allow calibrations of CO2 and temperature. As a result, condensation on the inner glass door and back chamber wall is minimized.

For both types of incubators, the microcomputer controls include backup systems that prevent samples from overheating, plus alarms that monitor the out-of-tolerance conditions. Both air-jacketed or water-jacketed incubators will provide a controlled atmosphere for samples.

Copper deters contamination

In the challenge to eliminate contamination in incubators, whether they are air- or water-jacketed, some manufacturers have incorporated copper into the chamber design. As copper breaks down, it releases copper oxide, which destroys any microbes present in the chamber. Some incubator manufacturers offer copper shelves or a copper interior. Sheldon Manufacturing has taken still a different approach by designing copper into the housing that surrounds its High Efficiency Particulate Air Filtration System (HEPA). This patented feature destroys trapped particulates and eliminates contamination where it affects the incubator the most in the chamber air. Copper also is extensively used in the CO2 line, water-jacket and sample port, again, to reduce the possibility of foreign bacteria contamination.

Sizes of CO2 incubators

Once an incubator style is chosen, size becomes the next major consideration given the typically space-restricted condition of most laboratories. Personal air and water jacket incubators, for example, offer compact size, conserving valuable lab bench space, and are excellent for microbiological and cell culture research. At the other end of the spectrum, large CO2 incubators and floor models are ideal for large volume incubation of valuable cells, tissues and cultures. The use of various apparatus inside the chamber, such as roller bottle systems and cell harvesters, is common. These incubators can range in capacity up to 60 cubic feet.

Type of CO2 Controls

To maintain the chamber environment for safe and reliable research, today’s CO2 incubators are equipped with precise automated controls. There are two primary types of controllers offered on CO2 incubators: Thermal Conductivity (TC) and Infrared (IR). The IR sensor is to date the most sophisticated technology for CO2 detection and control. It uses an infrared sensor to detect a change in CO2 concentrations as little as 0.1 %. Since the IR sensor is unaffected by changes in temperature and humidity, it is ideal for applications in which the incubator door is frequently opened, and provides nearly perfect culturing conditions for cell growth. The sensor continuously samples chamber atmosphere through a spectrophotometer flow cell, checking wavelength and instantly correcting an out-of-control condition. Also, CO2 recovery is rapid and changes in CO2 concentration are made within seconds.

The Thermal Conductivity (TC) Sensor is a more indirect method of CO2 detection and control since it measures the level of CO2 by sensing temperature differences as CO2 is introduced into the chamber.

General-purpose incubators offer alternative
If CO2 is not a pre-requisite for incubator selection. then general-purpose incubators may be best. Applications of these systems include biochemical, bacteriology, and hematological studies. These units are offered in air-jacket or water jacket options, in sizes from bench to floor models, and in economy styles with analog controls.

Water-jacketed general-purpose incubators are specified when ambient temperatures in the laboratory fluctuate. and for high humidity applications. Incubator models are offered with different types of controllers, sizes, and types of construction.

The majority of units are air-jacketed models. Some suppliers offer gravity convection and convection or forced-air incubators. Gravity units rely on the principle that warm air rises. and have no fans or blowers. Convection units are equipped with a fan to move or circulate the warm air to enhance temperature uniformity. Unfortunately. in most convection units the fan also causes a negative side effect drying of samples.

Sheldon Manufacturing offers both gravity-based units and a unique convection style incubator that has a triple wall. The triple-wall construction offers five heaters and a fan located outside the chamber to enhance temperature uniformity, without the common problem of drying samples.

Floor model incubators ideal for high volume applications

Floor model incubators are used for high volume applications when apparatus is used inside the controlled temperature atmosphere. An electrical outlet is provided inside the chamber. In addition. a prewired chart recorder panel is provided to the right of the control panel to produce a hard copy of test results.

Incubators for special low temp/B.O.D. application

A full line of incubators equipped with both heating and cooling capabilities can be obtained for a broad range of applications. These units are ideal for fish and insect work. Units are commonly operated close to ambient conditions, making refrigeration necessary. Also, many lab technicians do not want to work in a cold room environment and will choose an incubator for storing samples instead. Another use for these units is biological oxygen demand (8.0.0.) determinations, A.P.H.A. tests, serum studies and enzyme assays. It is important that units have safety features for both high limits and low limits.

Some tests may require diurnal growth chamber

The Diurnal Growth Chamber has both heating and refrigeration capabilities, plus a programmable light system. The unit can duplicate day/night growth testing, stability testing, and seed germination. Two 24-hour timers independently control temperatures and lighting in 15-minute increments, simulating a diurnal cycle. A typical cycle could be an 8-hour day (heat and light), and a 16-hour night (cold and dark).

Anaerobic chamber saves money, turnaround time

Another entirely unique and different type of incubator is one designed for laboratories that are studying, or wish to study, anaerobes (life forms in the absence of molecular oxygen). There are anaerobic chambers with built-in incubators available. These chambers enable lab technicians and scientists to conduct research in a strictly anaerobic environment, which is essential for reliable research results that could ultimately link anaerobes to certain infections leading to human diseases. In fact, research and clinical laboratories performing even a limited number of anaerobic procedures save substantial amounts of money by using permanent systems rather than disposable pouches and jars. It is of equal importance that anaerobic chambers can cut up to 50% in turnaround time given their ease of use and efficient operability.

An anaerobic environmental chamber is designed to allow efficient and dexterous glove-free handling and inspection of samples. Modular systems within the chamber facilitate the completion of procedures from unpacking material to inoculation, incubation, inspection and recovery, all without a single exposure to oxygen.

The handling of specimens required for anaerobic study must be done carefully and delicately. For this reason, convenience in the way the chamber is designed for operation by the technician is paramount.
Sheldon Manufacturing offers in its Bactron line of anaerobic chambers a special patented cuff that permits the technician to work barehanded inside the chamber without compromising the oxygen-free atmosphere. This enables the technician to bring small items into the chamber through the glove-free sleeve system. The result is greatly increased operator comfort and significantly improved productivity.

Choosing the best incubator for today’s laboratory is a process that has been significantly helped by a large variety of equipment catering to differing applications, chamber capacity needs, and ease of sample study. Depending upon the application, having the right controlled temperature equipment will greatly enhance efficiency, increase productivity, and give substantial savings over manual disposable methods.

Originally Published in Biomedical Products 2002