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This article will focus on how to choose a incubator. As a compact environmental simulation device, a incubator can be classified into various types based on factors such as temperature, humidity, lighting, air composition, the type of sample, and size. Here’s a breakdown of different types of incubators and their functions to help you make an informed choice.
1. Lab Constant Temperature Incubator: This basic type of incubator uses forced air circulation for heating. The temperature range is generally from room temperature +5°C to 65°C, with some reaching up to 105°C. It has no cooling function and is mainly used for bacterial culture, plant growth, seedling cultivation, yeast fermentation, and other constant temperature experiments. It is especially used in food factories for cultivating E. coli.
2. Water-jacketed Constant Temperature Incubator: This type uses water as both a heat transfer medium and an insulation material. The advantage is high temperature uniformity, and it can maintain constant temperature for an extended period after power loss. The temperature range is typically from room temperature +5°C to 65°C, similar to the electric constant temperature incubator.
3. Low Temperature Incubator: Also called a low-temperature preservation incubator, it has both heating and cooling functions, with a temperature range between 5°C and 65°C, and some models extend to 100°C. Commonly used for storing culture media, sera, pharmaceuticals, microbiological cultivation, environmental testing, and more.
4. Biochemical Incubator: This type also has both cooling and heating functions, with a wide temperature range from -60°C to 105°C. It is widely used in research institutions, universities, and production laboratories in fields such as biology, genetic engineering, medicine, public health, environmental protection, agriculture, and livestock.
5. Biological BOD Incubator: Similar to the biochemical incubator in terms of temperature range, the key difference is that the interior is equipped with a UV sterilization lamp, ensuring a sterile environment for microbiological cultivation.
6. Constant Temperature Humidity Incubator: With a temperature range from 0°C to 65°C, this incubator also offers humidity control, typically from 10% to 90% RH. It precisely controls both temperature and humidity, and is widely used in microbiology, pharmaceuticals, food processing, industrial materials, electronic products, furniture, and metals for testing performance under varying temperature and humidity conditions.
7. Artificial Climate Illuminated Incubator: An upgraded version of the biochemical incubator, it includes both cooling and heating functions, along with light capabilities. Its temperature range is between 0°C and 65°C, and it is used for simulating various environments, making it suitable for the cultivation of biological tissues, bacteria, fungi, microorganisms, plant breeding, seed germination, and animal/insect cultivation.
8. Artificial Climate Lighting Incubator: An advanced version of the constant temperature and humidity incubator, this high-precision incubator features light, humidity, and temperature control functions. It is widely used in plant growth and tissue culture, seedling cultivation, microbiological experiments, insect and small animal breeding, water quality BOD testing, and testing the aging and service life of materials like herbs, wood, and building materials.
9. Temperature Humidity CO2 Incubator: An improved version of the electric constant temperature incubator, this type includes CO2 gas within the chamber, simulating the growth environment of cells and tissues in a biological organism. It is a crucial device in immunology, oncology, genetics, and bioengineering.
10. Tri-gas Incubator: An upgrade to the CO2 incubator, this model introduces nitrogen and oxygen, with the gas composition controlled and adjusted by a computer. It is used for the propagation and cultivation of special microorganisms.
11. Anaerobic Incubator: Also known as an anaerobic workstation or glove box, this incubator provides a strictly anaerobic environment for culture and operations, with constant temperature and specialized conditions.
12. Shaking Incubator: Available in various types, such as artificial climate shaking incubators and CO2 shaking incubators, this incubator is designed for dynamic sample storage. It is especially suitable for comparative experiments involving biological samples and is widely used in cell culture, fermentation, hybridization, biochemistry, and tissue research.
From these categories, it becomes clear that the key to choosing a cultivation incubator lies in understanding the specific environmental conditions required for the samples to be cultivated. First, consider the temperature, followed by the air environment, humidity, and light. Ultimately, the choice should be based on user needs, and technological innovations continue to develop new types of incubators. For advanced incubators, sometimes they can serve as a lower-level incubator. For example, a constant temperature and humidity incubator can also be used for mold culture or even as an electric constant temperature incubator, eliminating the need for separate purchases.
