Navigate CO2 Incubator Selection with Confidence

72615_LM_Nuaire_CO2 Incubator Selection_eBook_JL_V2 (1) An in-depth analysis of CO2 incubator technologies, empowering lab managers to make informed purchasing decisions Contents Precision and Protection: Choosing the Right CO2 Incubator for Your Lab 03 CO2 Incubator Buying Guide 04 Direct-Heat vs Water-Jacket CO2 Incubators 11 How to Choose Between Infrared and Thermal Conductivity CO2 Sensors in Incubators 16 Choosing the Right CO2 Incubator for Your Lab 21 Precision and Protection: Choosing the Right CO2 Incubator for Your Lab Learn how advanced CO2 incubator technologies are solving key challenges in cell culture research Reproducibility is at the core of scientific research. Without it, findings lose credibility and scientific progress slows. To many researchers, especially those working with cell cultures, achieving reproducibility is a persistent challenge. While factors like operator error, reagent selection, and experimental design are commonly highlighted as primary sources of variability, the CO2 incubator plays an equally critical role. CO2 incubators must sufficiently regulate temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels for cells to thrive. Even slight deviations in these conditions can drastically alter cell growth, behavior, and experimental outcomes. For example, minor temperature fluctuations can alter gene expression, while insufficient humidity can lead to desiccation, affecting protein production Contamination is another substantial threat to research integrity. Although CO2 incubators are designed to create controlled environments, frequent door openings, improper handling, and insufficient maintenance can introduce contaminants. These contaminants can alter cellular behavior and compromise experimental data. Modern incubators, equipped with HEPA filtration systems and automated decontamination cycles, combat these invisible threats, safeguarding research and offering peace of mind. With so many factors to consider, finding the right CO2 incubator can often feel overwhelming. However, with a clear understanding of available technologies and how they align with their lab's unique needs, lab managers can select an incubator that supports reproducible results and enhances research quality. This eBook provides detailed insights into the latest advancements in CO2 incubator technology along with practical guidance to help lab managers make informed purchasing decisions-ultimately enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and reliability. CO2 incubators provide an optimum environment for tissue cell culture growth in clinical and life science research laboratories. The parameters that contribute to optimum growth conditions are humidity, temperature control, cleanliness, CO2 gas control, and/or O2 gas control.‌ Operated effectively, these incubators can maintain cells for extended periods of time, allowing for research and other necessary activities related to the cell and tissue culture contained within. Yet to assure that the cells are maintained in an environment in which they are protected requires purchasing the right incubator for your specific needs. To achieve that requires a strong awareness of the different aspects and features of today's incubators. This buying guide covers the key considerations when making a purchase decision for a CO2 incubator. Both water-jacket and direct-heat CO2 incubators establish and maintain a uniform interior temperature of, typically, 37°C to assure proper growth of cells. To achieve this consistent temperature, the interior chamber is surrounded by water or heating elements; each technology has specific advantages and disadvantages. Before making decisions regarding whether to purchase a direct heat or water jacketed incubator several factors should be taken into consideration. Two direct-heat In-VitroCell CO2 Incubators stacked on top of each other for a smaller footprint in your lab. Key Considerations Before Purchasing a CO2 Incubator Sponsored by: NuAire direct-heat CO2 incubators provide a stable in-vitro growth environment with heating elements on all six sides of the chamber. High-density insulation stabilizes the interior chamber temperature, potentially lowering energy costs. Unique features such as dual decontamination cycles, humidity, and hypoxia control help ensure research needs are met. Direct-heat incubators surround the interior chamber with heating elements, typically enclosed by insulation. Direct-heat CO2 incubators are lighter and, because the interior chamber is heated directly, operating temperature can be achieved and recovered more quickly then their water-jacketed counterparts. Some direct heat incubators rely on convection to keep the heat evenly distributed inside the chamber, while others maintain heat distribution via mechanical assistance such as a fan. A potential challenge with direct heat incubators is that forced air can lead to increased evaporation from cultures. In addition, a fan can create vibrations and, in some instances, create an environment more conducive to the growth of contaminants such as fungi and bacteria. Some direct heat incubators are capable of heat decontamination, using humidified or dry-heat cycles. Water-jacketed models do not have this capability. Advantages: NuAire water-jacket CO2 Incubators provide a stable in-vitro growth environment by heating the growth chamber with a water jacket. Water circulates within the jacket walls producing a temperature uniformity of ±0.2°C. The water jacket makes the chamber temperature less susceptible to fluctuations in the surrounding area. The additional water mass dampens vibrations, benefiting vibration-sensitive cells. Water has a greater specific heat capacity than air, so it is frequently used to regulate the interior temperature of lab incubators. The growth chamber is surrounded by a jacket of water that is warmed by heating elements, which in turn warms the growth chamber. Water circulates via convection, exchanging heat with the growth chamber, and acting as a thermal buffer. This buffer is especially important in the event of a power outage. The greater thermal stability of water vs. air allows the incubator to maintain internal temperature four to five times longer than a direct heat incubator. Water-jacketed incubators, when filled, are very heavy and must be emptied before being moved. Once moved and refilled, it can take as long as long as 24 hours to achieve a stable operating temperature. An advantage of the additional water mass is the tendency to dampen vibration, which may aid the growth of vibration-sensitive cells. Advantages: Note: Illustration shows view from the back While location and other physical factors can influence incubator performance, proper personnel training is of even greater importance in maintaining consistent operating temperature. If an incubator will be placed in an area subject to temperature instability, consider a water-jacketed model due to the greater thermal stability. Each time an incubator door is opened, cooler air from the surrounding area can enter the growth chamber. This lowers the temperature, disrupts the gas mixture of the growth chamber, and potentially introduces contaminants such as mold spores or bacteria. There will be a period of suboptimal performance as the incubator restores the proper interior conditions. Personnel should be trained to limit the number and duration of door openings. If frequent door openings are likely, consider the purchase of a direct-heat incubator which can restore growth chamber temperature more quickly than a water-jacketed model. CO2 Incubators equipped with multiple interior doors can limit the exposure of contents when the main door is opened. Maintaining the correct humidity within an incubator is essential. Without proper humidity control, airflow can lead to excessive evaporation, allowing cell culture dessication. Preventing damage to stored cells depends both on humidity control and the volume and velocity of airflow that occurs within the chamber. Some manufacturers, including NuAire, reduce airflow within its incubators to avoid drying out cell cultures. NuAire's "Closed Loop HEPA Filtration System" achieves this, and is standard equipment on all NuAire CO2 incubators. The technology slows airflow to one air exchange per 30 minutes within the inner chamber on water-jacket models or one air exchange per 20 minutes on direct-heat models, which minimizes evaporation or desiccation of the cell samples. Air is passed through a reservoir if moisture is needed* Room air enters the back and is routed to a front disk filter Chamber air is recirculated through a capsule HEPA filter Air is returned to the chamber to restart the cycle again *Available on select models Consider the planned location of a CO2 incubator when making a purchasing decision. The performance of an incubator can be adversely affected by temperature fluctuations in the surrounding environment. Avoid placing incubators near sources of heat, such as direct sunlight, or next to an oven, shaker, or autoclave. Take into consideration the common patterns of heating or cooling when locating an incubator in the vicinity of an HVAC diffuser. It may be necessary to block heating / cooling airflow in the direction of an incubator. Manufacturers generally test their incubators for temperature fluctuations and follow up these tests by publishing temperature uniformity statistics. Consider these statistics when deciding where to locate an incubator. 10" (254 mm)* In-VitroCell Water Jacketed Incubators 3' (914 mm) Door Clearance 3" (76 mm)** In-VitroCell Direct Heat Incubators Ventilation Register (Blocked Facing Incubators) Window Air Flow Ventilation Register (Blocked Facing Incubators) 2" (51 mm) Minimum Clearance Corridor Air Supply Duct Corridor *Minimum recommended clearance for direct-heat models with decontamination cycle. **Minimum recommended clearance for water-jacket models. SAMPLE INFLOW SAMPLE OUTFLOW Maintaining a healthy CO2 level within the incubator is important as CO2 interacts with the buffering system of the cell culture media to determine the media's pH. A key choice to make for CO2 control is what type of CO2 sensor the incubator will have. While many incubators use the more traditional thermal conductivity (TC) sensor, the newer type of infrared (IR) sensor is often more effective as it is not as sensitive to fluctuations caused by door openings. Thermal Conductivity Sensors measure the difference in electrical resistance between a sealed reference cell and a cell open to the chamber atmosphere. CO2 content is calculated based on the difference in resistance between the two cells. Mirror Surface In addition to the many factors related to maintaining an ideal cell growth environment, another important concern when selecting a CO2 incubator is preventing contamination of cell cultures. Contaminants can be introduced via normal incubator use. For example, airborne particulate such as mold spores may enter any time the door is opened. This risk can be minimized with good laboratory procedure, but the growth chamber will eventually be exposed to the surrounding environment. Contaminants can also be introduced via improper laboratory procedure, or personnel error. Touching the interior of the incubator chamber with a bare hand, or a contaminated glove, may introduce bacteria or viruses to your samples. HEPA filtration of the air inside the growth chamber is an effective means of removing airborne contaminants. NuAire's Closed Loop HEPA Filtration System continuously circulates growth chamber air through a HEPA filter to minimize risk from contaminants introduced by a door opening. Many CO2 incubators use decontamination cycles to clean interior surfaces. High-heat decontamination cycles require the incubator to be emptied before decontamination. Protective Window Infrared (IR) CO2 Sensors rely on the fact that each gas absorbs a distinct wavelength of light. CO2 absorbs the wavelength 4.3μm, within the infrared portion of the Electromagnetic spectrum. Direct-heat CO2 incubators, such as NuAire's In-VitroCell series, offer two types of heat decontamination cycle. A 95°C humidified cycle or 145°C dry cycle can decontaminate the interior of the incubator. A CO2 incubator growth chamber which is constructed with rounded corners offers contamination control advantages. Interior rounded corners eliminate tight crevices where contaminants may collect, and chemical disinfectants are able to contact more surface area of the chamber. The main door gasket creates a seal around a CO2 incubator's inner door. This gasket is an area where humidity can accumulate, resulting in conditions more conducive to the growth of fungi. A gasket which can be removed for cleaning can be disinfected much more thoroughly. If using a V-gasket be aware of the direction of the flap. A flap that points outwards will collect particulate, preventing it from entering the growth chamber. A flap that points inward is an area for humidity to collect and a source of contamination. Another way to obtain continuous protection is to select an incubator which makes use of copper alloy for interior surfaces. Copper has properties that may inhibit the growth of bacteria. NuAire offers an antimicrobial copper alloy for chamber shelving. LABORATORY EQUIPMENT NuAire, Inc. | +1.763.553.1270 | www.nuaire.com © Copyright 2024 NuAire, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 20-1308-W-G-EN-3-0824 CO2 incubators are key equipment for biological labs. They enable the necessary environmental control and isolate cell cultures from external conditions and contamination. Control focuses on three major factors:‌ Normal temperature for the human body, 37 degrees Celsius, is an optimum temperature to grow most cell cultures. Cells must stay within a narrow temperature range - plus or minus a few tenths of a degree - to avoid conditions that threaten the viability of the cell culture or create a significant delay in growth and impact on schedules. Inadequate relative humidity (RH) within the growth chamber causes medium desiccation. Minimum RH can be as low as 75- 80%; more commonly, RH must remain above 90%. Cells require environments within a specific pH range, typically around 7.0 to 7.7, for optimal growth. Growth medium includes a pH buffer, often CO2-bicarbonate based, to aid in maintaining stable pH levels. Atmospheric CO2 interacts with humidity to create carbonic acid which can raise growth medium pH. Control of atmospheric CO2 helps maintain steady growth medium pH. Two main technologies for temperature control - direct-heat and water-jacket - each offer advantages for specific operations and conditions. This paper focuses on choosing the type of temperature control for CO2 incubators. A CO2 incubator is essentially a box within a box. The outermost shell is what remains visible when the door is closed and the system is operating. Within the shell is the growth chamber, in which temperature, CO2, and relative humidity are controlled. + = H20 C02 H2C03 Which One is the Best Fit for Your Research? Sponsored by: Water Carbon Dioxide Carbonic Acid In a direct-heat CO2 incubator, heating elements surround and contact the top, bottom, sides, and back of the growth chamber, warming it by conduction. The inner surface of the growth chamber heats the atmosphere inside the chamber, and convection transfers the heat to the samples. Insulation covers the heating elements so the growth chamber can better retain heat. Some vendors embed heating elements in the incubator door to avoid a significant temperature gradient between the heated growth chamber walls and the unheated door area. A temperature gradient can cause uneven growth of cells based on their position in the chamber. With static heat elements, there is a possibility of stratification of the heat - concentration in and around the heating elements. Stratification can also cause temperature gradients and result in uneven growth among cell cultures. Some vendors include an internal fan in incubators to draw air through vents in the top of the shell and down between the insulation and the growth chamber or between the insulation and the outer shell. The moving air uses convection to help transfer heat and helps equalize the temperature around the outer wall of the growth chamber. Advantages: In a water-jacket CO2 incubator, the growth chamber sits within a water-filled container called the water-jacket that, in turn, is surrounded by the outer shell. Rather than the direct application of heat to the walls of the growth chamber, the water in the jacket is heated, which, in turn, warms the growth chamber through conduction. As with direct- heat CO2 incubators, the growth chamber's inner surface heats the air and convection transfers the heat to the cultures. This is similar to the ordinary kitchen use of a double boiler to apply moderated heat to mixtures which otherwise might be spoiled by direct contact with the heat source. The properties in question are specific heat and thermal capacity. Specific heat is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit of mass of a given material by 1 degree Celsius. Thermal capacity, also called heat capacity, of a material is that material's specific heat multiplied by the volume and density of the amount of material. Advantages: The different ways in which water-jacket and direct-heat CO2 incubators control internal temperature have implications for conditions inside the growth chamber and for use, operations, and maintenance. Direct-Heat The direct contact of heating elements with the exterior of the growth chamber enables a direct-heat CO2 incubator to change temperatures in a relatively short time. A "relatively" short time, in the context of a direct-heat CO2 incubator, could be eight hours to reach a stable temperature of 37°C and be calibrated for use. By comparison, a water-jacket incubator will typically take three times as long, or 24 hours (usually with an overnight period to stabilize temperature), to prepare. The ability of a direct-heat incubator to relatively quickly adjust internal temperature is not necessarily an advantage in all labs. If a laboratory is, for example, in a building which shuts down air temperature controls at night, the temperature in the growth chamber can drop faster in relation to the ambient temperature. Similarly, a direct-heat incubator operated in an area prone to power outages or brownouts may be less reliable for maintaining stable internal temperature than its water-jacket counterpart. Water-Jacket The thermal capacity inherent in a water-jacket CO2 incubator will moderate the effects of ambient changes or the loss of power. Also, if work requires low temperature levels, a water-jacket incubator can bring temperatures down to 5 degrees Celsius through the use of cooling coils. A direct-heat incubator is limited to a low temperature of approximately 5 degrees Celsius above ambient temperature. A water-jacket incubator heats the growth chamber evenly; as opposed to a direct-heat incubator where the heating elements have discrete contact points with the chamber. As a result, a water-jacket incubator has fewer temperature gradients inside the chamber. Cultures placed on a top shelf are more likely to be at the same temperature as those on a bottom shelf. The greater uniformity in a water-jacket CO2 incubator also allows higher RH levels, between 95 and 98 percent, because a difference in temperature within the chamber will not lead to condensation. The RH level can be high enough to use 96-well plates for cultures without growth medium desiccation. Direct-Heat Vibration can cause sensitive cell types to detach from the growth medium. Components frequently associated with direct-heat incubators, such as a motorized fan to aid internal air circulation, can cause excess vibration if not properly balanced. Some direct- heat incubators aid internal circulation using an air pump, as air pumps are less prone to cause vibration. Water-Jacket Water-jacket CO2 incubators are less susceptible to excess vibration. The water surrounding the growth chamber dampens vibrations which might otherwise affect the growth chamber. Decontamination The growth chamber of a CO2 incubator is, by design, an optimal environment for biological growth. While this is desirable for cell cultures, this environment also promotes the growth of undesirable contamination such as bacteria or mold. Because of this, periodic decontamination is necessary. Most direct-heat incubators can offer convenient and effective decontamination options using the built-in heat source. Higher quality CO2 incubators even offer dual decontamination cycles, a 145°C high-temperature dry cycle, and a 95°C high-temperature humidified cycle to address potential contamination. Water-jacket CO2 incubators are not designed to operate at the high temperatures necessary for decontamination, so a third- party gas decontamination service is acceptable if necessary. Replenishing Water for Humidity Both types of CO2 incubators require the addition of water to water pans or RH reservoirs to maintain humidity. Water-jacket incubators, in addition, will require infrequent replenishment of water levels within the jacket, using specific types of distilled water; availability of the right type of water may be restricted. Movement Maintenance requiring the incubator to be moved is more convenient with a direct-heat model, due to that design's lower weight. A water-jacket incubator of similar capacity will be much heavier due to the mass of the water-jacket. Water-jacket incubators are usually more expensive than direct- heat models of similar capacity due to the additional construction needs to hold the additional weight of the water. The choice between water-jacket and direct-heat CO2 requires balancing practices and needs of a laboratory against the cost and convenience of each incubator type. Reasons for Choosing a Water-Jacket CO2 Incubator: Balance your needs and conditions with available budget and operational constraints to find the type of incubator that will be best for you. Work with a knowledgeable vendor that can help you make the right decision. Sponsored by: LABORATORY EQUIPMENT NuAire, Inc. | +1.763.553.1270 | www.nuaire.com © Copyright 2024 NuAire, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 20-1428-W-G-EN-2-0924 Carbon dioxide (CO2) incubators are critical equipment for biological and medical laboratories. They provide the necessary environmental controls and isolate cell cultures from external conditions and contamination.‌ Control focuses on three major factors: Two direct-heat CO2 Incubators stacked on top of each other for a smaller footprint within the laboratory. How to Choose Between Sponsored by: There are two main technologies for measuring CO2 - infrared (IR) and thermal conductivity. This short paper compares them and examines which technology might be best for a given laboratory. An incubator is essentially a box within a box. The outermost shell is what remains visible when the door is closed and the system operating. Within that shell is the growth chamber, in which temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 are controlled. All three conditions require control because they affect cell growth. Heating elements, whether directly applied to the growth chamber or indirectly through a water-filled jacket surrounding the chamber, maintain a temperature, typically 37°C, although, depending on the lab's specific needs, temperatures can range significantly higher or lower. A water reservoir or pan provides humidity control. Both temperature and humidity are of secondary importance in this discussion. An incubator also needs control of CO2 content in the air, generally achieved through an exogenous source of CO2, like an external tank of gas attached through a hose to the incubator. A sensor, using either IR or TC technology, monitors the level of CO2, activating a mechanism that adds more of the gas when levels are too low. Direct-Heat CO2 Incubator Water-Jacket CO2 Incubator The reason CO2 control is critical in incubators is that it offers indirect control of pH levels. Cells are grown in a container, whether a petri dish, a 96-well plate, or some other type. A liquid, solid, or semi-solid growth medium provides nutrients and a substance the cells can fasten to. Growth media typically include a pH buffer, often carbonate- based, to keep pH levels stable as cell processes throw off acids as byproducts. As a reminder, pH, which stands for potential of hydrogen, is a measure of acidity on a scale from 0 to 14. Specifically, it is a measure of the number of hydrogen ions, symbolized by H+, in a solution. Below is the formula for pH: pH = -log10[H+] Cells that researchers study and cultivate tend to thrive in a relatively narrow pH range of about 7 (the "normal" level of pH found in unaltered water) to 7.7 (slightly alkaline). If the pH ranges too far above or below the optimum level for a type of cell, at best growth will slow and affect lab work and schedules. If the pH level is off by too extreme an amount, the culture will die. Although growth media frequently include pH buffers, commonly used carbonate-based buffers depend on a balance between CO2 and bicarbonate dissolved in the medium. If CO2 escapes into the atmosphere, alkalinity increases and the pH level changes. The most common method to prevent release of CO2 into the atmosphere of the growth chamber is to ensure a sufficiently high percentage of the gas in the air. This is due to the physics of gases, including the concept of partial pressures, each separate gas in a mixture exhibiting a portion of the overall pressure of the mixture, and a principle called Henry's Law. It states that the concentration of a gas that is dissolved in a liquid, like the CO2 in the growth medium, is directly proportionate to the partial pressure of that same gas in the atmosphere above the liquid. In other words, for a particular medium and type of buffer, a sufficient partial pressure of CO2 in the growth chamber atmosphere prevents more CO2 from escaping the medium. As a result, the pH of the medium stays controlled. In practical terms, given normal atmospheric pressure, the incubator only needs to keep the CO2 level sufficiently high as a percentage of the overall atmosphere. A commonly used value is 5 percent, compared with the normal roughly 0.3 percent of CO2 found in the atmosphere at sea level. The exact percentage needed will vary with the type of growth medium. If too little CO2 is in the atmosphere, CO2 will be able to escape from the growth medium and the mixture will become too alkaline. Too much CO2 in the atmosphere will enable more of the gas to be absorbed by the medium, ultimately turning it too acidic. No matter what the necessary value, the incubator must be able to calculate the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere accurately and quickly. Henry's Law states that the concentration of a gas that is dissolved in a liquid is directly proportionate to the partial pressure of that same gas in the atmosphere above the liquid. There are two technologies in use that measure the percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere of the growth chamber: Thermal Conductivity (TC) Thermal Conductivity sensors work through measuring electrical resistance through the air. Typically, a sensor is composed of two cells, each containing a thermistor, a "thermal resistor" in which the resistance changes with atmospheric conditions, including gas composition, temperature, and humidity. A sealed reference cell encloses reference atmosphere at a controlled temperature while the other cell can be filled with the growth chamber's atmosphere. Circuitry measures the difference in resistance between the two cells. When the chamber atmosphere is in a steady physical state and the system is calibrated to known temperature and humidity conditions, the difference in resistance between the reference cell and the other is the result of the difference in CO2 concentration. TC sensors offer a substantial price savings by as much as 20% of the device cost. However, they have a significant drawback. Because thermistor resistance varies with temperature and relative humidity, as well as gas composition, any time the door to the growth chamber is opened, the temperature and humidity change from what the calibrated sensor expects, which means the readings are no longer accurate. Once the door is closed again, regaining a steady state of temperature and relative humidity can take as long as 40 minutes for the typical incubator. Until then, any reading is unreliable. Some vendors begin to add CO2 after a door opens to regain levels, but because they don't know what the existing levels are, the percentage may be incorrect, affecting the pH balance of the medium. In some cases, like medical and pathology uses, this may not matter. For many types of research, the inaccuracy can lead to poor reliability and consistency in measurement and in results. Infrared (IR) IR sensors rely on the fact that each gas absorbs a distinct wavelength of light. CO2 absorbs the wavelength 4.3µm, within the infrared portion of the Electromagnetic spectrum. An IR emitter directs infrared light through a sample of the growth chamber's atmosphere, then through a Fabry-Perot Interferometer filter which isolates the proper wavelength, and finally into a sensor. Periodically calibrated circuitry measures the amount of 4.3µm light that strikes the sensor and calculates the difference between it and what was emitted by the source. The more CO2, the less light passes. The difference allows the circuitry to calculate the percentage of CO2. However, because the light absorption does not depend on temperature or humidity, the sensor is accurate any time, including shortly after opening and closing the door of the growth chamber. Mirror Surface Protective Window Infrared (IR) CO2 Sensors rely on the fact that each gas absorbs a distinct wavelength of light. CO2 absorbs the wavelength 4.3μm, within the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. SAMPLE INFLOW Thermal Conductivity Sensors measure the difference in electrical resistance between a sealed reference cell SAMPLE OUTFLOW and a cell open to the chamber atmosphere. CO2 content is calculated based on the difference in resistance between the two cells. An incubator with a TC sensor is financially tempting to any lab, as the price difference can be substantial although in recent years the cost of IR sensors has decreased making them more affordable. If the lab's work is of a type that will feel little effect from CO2 reading inconsistency and inaccuracy every time the incubator door is open, the choice might make sense. However, for labs that either do more sensitive work now or might in the future, an IR sensor-equipped incubator is the right choice. Aside from the loss in accuracy in work product with TC, which could affect quality, there is a subtle but substantive financial argument for IR. If personnel cannot trust the readings of the CO2 sensor for even half an hour after a door is opened, they lose productive time. You can calculate the effective cost to the organization. Multiply the typical number of times the door is opened a day by a half- hour. Determine the fully loaded cost of a researcher's time. Add the expected margin for an employee's time. The total is the total cost to the organization. For example, say the door is opened four times a day and a researcher's time is effectively worth $150 an hour. The resulting two hours a day is worth $300, or $1,500 of lost productivity a week. That would be $6,450 for the average 4.3-week month and $77,400 a year. The money "saved" by using a TC sensor-equipped incubator quickly evaporates. Within just a month or two, the total cost of the IR sensor-equipped model is lower. For most labs, especially ones looking to expand either their type or amount of work, IR sensors make sense, both financially and qualitatively. Sponsored by: LABORATORY EQUIPMENT NuAire, Inc. | +1.763.553.1270 | www.nuaire.com © Copyright 2024 NuAire, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 20-1435-W-G-EN-2-0924 When purchasing a CO2 incubator, lab managers must evaluate several key factors to ensure research success and long-term reliability Choosing the Right CO2 Incubator for Your Lab