Laboratory incubators play a crucial role in microbiology. Several microbiology and biotech breakthroughs depend primarily on incubators to help them create the environment necessary for cell culturing.
Common Uses of Laboratory Incubators
In essence, incubators are designed to recreate the ideal habitat where microbes can thrive. Microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi are sensitive to their surroundings and can only thrive under certain conditions.
Knowing the behavior of microbes is important since they can cause illnesses (and other conditions) that can affect the health and overall well-being of animals and humans.
Laboratory incubators are used to establish an environment for culture. With the use of laboratory incubators can provide cells with constant O2, CO2, temperature, and humidity. Temperature regulation is done using water or air jackets.
Humidity is also kept constant using water baths and fans that allow CO2 circulation. Some lab incubators are also combined with hybridisation or other features such as incubator shakers. Some of the common features include:
- Prevents the evaporation of media and desiccation of samples
- Prevents any contamination from happening
- Makes it easier to decontaminate
- Variable oxygen control
- Temperature, humidity, and CO2 control
The features mentioned above are considered primary considerations since they can affect the environment they want to achieve significantly. Laboratory incubators also come with a variety of other functions that relate to cell culture.
For instance, shaking incubators are designed to add movement in order to mix cultures. On the other hand, gas incubators work to regulate the internal gas composition in the cell culture environment.
Typically, laboratory incubators come with a redundant power source. This can help ensure that experiments that are carried inside are not disrupted in the event of power outages.
Laboratory incubators also come in different sizes—from small tabletop models to floor models (warm rooms).
