2015 CO2 Incubator Survey Results

CO2 incubators are designed to copy a cell’s natural environment with a relative humidity of around 95 percent, a temperature of 37°C and a pH of 7.2 to 7.5. They are most common in biology labs performing tissue or cell culture and are used in any process where cells need to be cultured for a few hours or many weeks or where cells need to be expanded or maintained.

Written byTrevor Henderson, PhD
| 2 min read

Top 6 Questions You Should Ask When Buying an COIncubator

  1. What measures have been taken in the design to avoid contamination and what features are included to remove contamination?
  2. How does the CO2 sensor contribute to optimal cell growth?
  3. How does the humidity contribute to optimal cell growth?
  4. Ask for the uniformity and accuracy data versus asking for a water jacket or air jacket.
  5. Do you need O2 control to simulate the environment for your experiment accurately?
  6. Calculate the total cost of ownership on the product over one year including product price, install, regular cleaning labor, material like HEPA filters, etc.

Types of CO2 incubators used by survey respondents:

Water Jacketed60%
Air Jacketed36%
Direct Heat21%
Gel Jacketed1%
Other1%

Primary purpose of CO2 incubators as reported by survey respondents:

Research77%
Clinical18%
Quality control4%
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)2%
Other5%

Nearly 57% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new CO2 incubator. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:

Replacement of an aging system
32%
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity
22%
Upgrading existing equipment
18%
Setting up a new lab
10%
First time purchase
6%
Other
12%

Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing CO2 Incubator:

Performance of product77%
Value for price paid75%
Stable CO2 control75%
Low maintenance / easy to clean74%
Ease of use68%
Fast recovery times59%
Warranties59%
Audible and visible temperature alarms59%
Service and support55%
Low operating costs54%

For more information on CO2 incubators, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/incubators

See the latest survey results here

About the Author

  • Trevor Henderson headshot

    Trevor Henderson BSc (HK), MSc, PhD (c), has more than two decades of experience in the fields of scientific and technical writing, editing, and creative content creation. With academic training in the areas of human biology, physical anthropology, and community health, he has a broad skill set of both laboratory and analytical skills. Since 2013, he has been working with LabX Media Group developing content solutions that engage and inform scientists and laboratorians. He can be reached at thenderson@labmanager.com.

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