These are devices used for cell culture that provide the required and appropriate environmental conditions—temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration—inside the chamber. For cell studies to be successful, factors affecting cell growth such as CO2 concentration, temperature, and humidity must be maintained within correct ranges and with minimal deviation from the set parameters throughout the entire chamber. The main features that users should consider when selecting a device are listed below;
  • Device capacity (options ranging from 50 liters to 851 liters)
  • Temperature and CO2 stability and accuracy (Ambient temperature +5°C to +50°C, ±0.1°C temperature accuracy, 0–20%, ±0.15% CO2)
  • Decontamination options suitable for laboratory conditions (closed-system UV lamp, H2O2 vapor, high temperature, or HEPA)
Today, there are many CO2 incubator brands and models available at very different price levels. In addition to technical specifications, devices offer user-friendly displays and various access features. Historical data such as temperature, CO2 concentration, and door opening events can be viewed graphically on the screen and exported via USB. This allows time-based records to be created for all parameters affecting the culture inside the device.
In this article, we aim to briefly explain the reasons behind these differences and what should be considered when selecting a CO2 incubator.
One of the worst problems researchers working with cell culture may encounter is contamination. There are preventive solutions as well as decontamination methods applied after contamination occurs.

CO2 Incubator Decontamination Methods

There are various technologies available to minimize the risk of contamination. These can be broadly classified as “active” and “passive” methods.

1) Active Methods

These methods operate while samples are “present” inside the device, without interrupting work and without harming the samples.
  • Inner Chamber and Shelf Material
    Many brands use stainless steel. Some brands offer copper–stainless steel alloy or fully copper options, with full-copper designs increasing costs.
    • The main advantage of copper is its antiseptic effect. This naturally inhibits the growth of mold, fungi, mycoplasma, and bacteria. However, in devices with fully copper inner chambers, corrosion may occur after prolonged use due to humidity.
    • In devices using a copper–stainless steel alloy for the inner chamber, corrosion does not occur, and contamination can be controlled thanks to the copper alloy.

    • For our Copper–Stainless Steel Alloy devices; you can review our products and request a presentation via the PHCBi IncuSafe CO2 Incubators link.
  • Decontamination of Circulated Air
    To decontaminate air entering the chamber, especially after door openings, some devices are equipped with HEPA filters and UV lamps. A fan inside the device circulates air, helping to maintain homogeneous temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels. The circulated air passes through a HEPA filter or a closed-system UV light, ensuring air decontamination within the chamber. HEPA filters can trap contaminants of 0.3 microns and larger, while UV lamps are effective against contaminants of all sizes, including mycoplasma and viruses. HEPA filters are recommended to be replaced every 6 months, while UV lamps can be used for more than 5 years. The HEPA filter mentioned here is located inside the chamber and should not be confused with filters at gas inlets. The UV system referred to is a closed-system, ozone-free design with a specific wavelength, safe to use while samples are present and should not be confused with UV systems used only when the device is empty.
    For our UV decontamination devices; you can review our products and request a presentation via the PHCBi IncuSafe CO2 Incubators link.

2) Passive Methods

These methods are generally applied when contamination occurs and are used when samples are “not present” inside the device.
  • UV Decontamination:
  • Since UV light is only effective where it reaches, all removable parts inside the device are removed and the chamber is exposed to UV light. This process is typically applied for 24 hours.
  • High-Temperature Dry Heat Sterilization:
  • According to many pharmacopoeias, temperatures of 160°C–180°C are required for proper sterilization. Many brands offer dry heat sterilization at 180°C. This process takes approximately 12 hours. In some models, the CO2 sensor must be removed before the process and recalibrated afterward.
  • H2O2 Decontamination:
  • The chamber is exposed to H2O2 vapor for a certain period, after which a UV lamp is activated to decompose the H2O2 vapor into water vapor and oxygen. This process takes approximately 3 hours.

What Are the CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Incubator Sensor Types?

CO2 sensor types are one of the factors that create price differences. Basically, two types of sensors are used.
  • TC (Thermal Conductivity):
  • These sensors operate on the principle of measuring the resistance of a specific gas (CO2) relative to a reference gas (usually ambient room air). Due to their structure, thermal conductivity sensors are affected by humidity and temperature. They are low-cost.
  • IR (Infrared):
  • IR sensors operate based on the principle that gas (CO2) absorbs light at a specific frequency. They are available in single-beam, dual-beam, single-detector, and dual-detector types. Some devices can perform auto-zero CO2 calibration. Compared to TC sensors, they provide more stable and accurate measurements and are more expensive.
    Some brands offer independently adjustable regional heaters or dew point control to prevent condensation inside the chamber.
The capacities and options of the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Incubators we offer at Labor İldam are as follows;

Decontamination Options

Capacity Sensor Type Inner Chamber HEPA Filter UV Lamp System H2O2 Decontamination High-Temperature Sterilization
80 Liters IR Sensor Stainless Steel Optional - - 180°C Standard
170 Liters IR Sensor Stainless Steel Optional - - 180°C Standard
258 Liters IR Sensor Stainless Steel Optional - - 180°C Standard
50 Liters IR Sensor Copper-Alloy Stainless Steel - Standard Optional -
165 Liters TC Sensor Copper-Alloy Stainless Steel - Standard Optional -
165 Liters IR Sensor Copper-Alloy Stainless Steel - Standard Optional 180°C Optional
230 Liters IR Sensor Copper Alloy - Standard Optional -
851 Liters IR Sensor Copper-Alloy Stainless Steel - Standard - -


CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Incubator Accessories

There are accessories available that can be purchased with the devices according to user requirements.
  • Automatic Gas Cylinder Changeover Kit:
  • Systems are available that automatically switch to a backup CO2 cylinder when the primary one is empty. To avoid unpleasant surprises during holidays, an automatic cylinder changeover system can be preferred.
  • Stacking Kit:
  • In laboratories with multiple devices, these kits allow two incubators to be stacked on top of each other to save space without interfering with their operation.
  • Remote Alarm Systems:
  • Some brands offer systems that can call you in case of a malfunction and allow continuous remote monitoring of the device status, which can be preferred for sample safety.

As Labor İldam, we are the official distributor in Turkey for the PHCBi (formerly Panasonic, previously Sanyo) and Haier brands.
We offer models in various capacities that incorporate almost all of the advanced features mentioned above, and we are pleased to assist our customers.
For our Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Incubators; you can review our products and request a presentation via the CO2 and Multi-Gas Incubators link.

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