CO2 Incubators

CO2 Incubators are large chambers which are used to provide the correct environment for cells to be grown. They can be used for bacterial cultures or cell cultures. They are able to provide the correct atmospheric conditions to allow cells to thrive.

A CO2 incubator has an inlet pipe to which a cylinder of carbon dioxide can be attached. This can be used to create an internal environment of between 5-10% carbon dioxide. The presence of carbon dioxide within the incubator is important in order to create the necessary pH of the cell culture medium. The incubator is able to monitor the level of CO2 within and report any fluctuations which occur. This could be in the form of an alarm or graphical output.

It is important to bear in mind that the CO2 detector within the incubator may only be fully functional if the environment is also maintained at an adequate level of humidity. Unless this is at the correct level, the incubator may be giving a false reading of the amount of CO2 present. This is essential to maintain cells in the right environment for their growth.

Because CO2 incubators provide such optimal conditions for cell growth, it is very important to use good laboratory practise when using the incubator. Otherwise cross contamination can occur and other organisms can easily take hold and destroy weeks of work. 

One incubator can often be shared between several users in a laboratory and it is essential to take precautions when opening and closing the door or during any operations which involve retrieving cells. The internal humidity is maintained usually, by a tray of water which is kept topped up on a weekly basis. It is essential to always use sterile distilled water to do this.  The tray which holds the water must also be cleaned to prevent the expensive and time-consuming results of contamination by unwanted invaders. The incubator should be cleaned with 70% alcohol between uses and internal removable parts should be autoclaved to achieve full sterilisation. 

CO2 incubators are usually set to 37oC. This is the optimal working temperature for promoting healthy cell growth. The external indicators of the incubator do often provide a good sense of the internal environment, but it is often useful to keep a good thermometer inside to keep a record of the internal temperature. This thermometer must also be cleaned with 70% alcohol on a regular basis to maintain its integrity. 

The CO2 incubator provides the optimal environment for cell growth. With adequate care and attention to sterile technique, it can be a valuable asset to the whole lab.

A good example of popular CO2 incubators is the "Galaxy CO2 Incubator" shown below.