CO2 incubator maintenance and care

Cleaning the CO2 Incubator, keeping the CO2 incubator functioning properly and avoiding cell contamination requires regular cleaning of the incubator, which is hard work, but very necessary and effective. Carefully following the steps below to clean the CO2 incubator will help reduce contamination and maintain good cell growth. If your optional incubator has an automatic autoclaving function, it will effectively eliminate bacteria and fungi without the use of disinfectants. Regular cleaning of the incubator is still a necessary task to remove spilled liquid or dust.

1. Remove the cultures from the incubator. If cleaning does not take long, store them in a clean, sterile container and keep them warm. Close the incubator, including closing the air supply valve.

2. Remove all septa, septum holders, and all accessories, air lines. Empty the water tray and dry it with a clean, lint-free cloth.

3. Clean all interior surfaces, ducts, partitions, partition brackets, inner doors, fans, and door seals with mild soapy water. Wipe with mild detergent to remove dirt and dust from all hidden nooks and crannies. The rounded corner design of the incubator is more conducive to cleaning.

4. Rinse the inside of the chamber and parts with distilled water and dry again with a clean lint-free cloth.

5. Wipe the interior walls and parts with diluted quaternary ammonium disinfectant. Wipe with 70% alcohol to remove any remaining traces of sanitizer. Again, be sure to wipe all corners and remember to place door seals and replace internal parts.

6. Heat the incubator and allow it to dry completely. This should only take a moment, so don't leave the door open - it will only reintroduce new dust and dirt!

7. If the optional incubator is equipped with an automatic sterilization feature, run it immediately. After the cycle is complete, fill the reservoir with sterile distilled water and open the air valve.

8. Remember to clean the outside of the incubator to eliminate any dirt and microorganisms that may have entered. If the top of the incubator is very dirty, dust is likely to enter when the incubator door is opened, so it is important to clean the top. Use a lint-free cloth dipped in mild soapy water. Then wipe it clean with a clean cloth dipped in water. Dry the outside with a clean, dry cloth. Pay special attention to door handles that everyone touches. Do not use any liquid or spray cleaners to clean the touch screen monitor. Instead, you need to use a dry microfiber cloth to clean these.

That's it, it's done! Returning cultures to the incubator when it reaches set conditions

Reducing Contamination The cleanliness of the lab is critical to reducing the probability of the culture being contaminated. Dust and dirt in the laboratory are dispersed in the air as people walk around the room or through gaps in open and closed doors. Typical room air contains 100?1000 microorganisms per cubic meter, most of which come from the trillions of normal flora that live on our skin. This means that every time you open the door of an incubator, contaminants can enter. That's why it's important to minimize contaminants and dust in your lab by cleaning it frequently, at least once or twice a month. Clean and sanitize biosafety cabinets, water baths, centrifuges and microscopes. Eliminate cardboard in or around refrigerators and freezers as cardboard can get wet and then harbor fungus. Do not place items on top of the incubator as the dust and dirt around the items can be swept into the chamber in the air stream created once the door is opened. Remember to clean the corners of the lab as well as and areas above and below the equipment where dust can collect.

CO2 Incubator Sterilizer Options Many researchers ask: Which sterilizers can be used in a CO2 incubator? The truth is that there are many choices of disinfectants available, but not all are safe for cells. Some powerful disinfectants emit fumes into the incubator that affect cell growth. These fumes contain VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) that can induce heat shock and the expression of other stress proteins. Common lab chemicals such as phenol, isoamyl alcohol, and beta-mercaptoethanol are VOCs, and harmful fumes are produced by lab cleaning products and disinfectants, even floor cleaners and waxes. In short, if those strong odors that make you feel bad are bad for cell culture as well. Experimenters are getting more and more concerned about the harmful effects of VOCs on cell culture.