Co₂ Incubator: Guide To Proper Use And Preventive Maintenance

By Adam Christensen, NuAire, Inc.

When cells are grown in a lab setting for research, incubators simulate their ideal living conditions. Researchers place their trust in both the incubator and the lab manager who supervises its use and care. Incubated cell cultures can represent months – or even years – of valuable research that is lost if cells die. Thus, incubator failure or unstable conditions are risks. An even greater risk is contamination from human errors or the surrounding environment. The lab manager can minimize these risks in three ways: 1) properly training incubator users, 2) implementing a routine preventive maintenance program, and 3) giving careful thought to the placement of the CO₂ incubator inside the lab. 

Not only is the CO₂ incubator important to the researchers, but it is also an investment for the institution or company. The lab manager’s role in proper use and maintenance ensures the organization gets the most from its investment via research productivity and long life of the incubator.

This guide will help lab managers understand risks and best practices as they develop training for CO₂ incubator users and establish a preventive maintenance program and setup criteria.