How to Choose a Laboratory Incubator for Your Application

Choosing a laboratory incubator is not simply a matter of selecting a chamber with the correct temperature range.

An incubator creates and maintains defined environmental conditions around samples, cultures or test materials. Depending on the application, those conditions may include temperature, cooling, carbon dioxide, oxygen, humidity, light or agitation.

The correct choice begins by identifying which conditions must remain controlled throughout the experiment and how quickly they must recover following normal laboratory activity.

This guide provides an application-based route for selecting an appropriate laboratory incubator.

Start with One Question: What Must the Incubator Control?

Before comparing models, determine which environmental parameters directly affect the experiment.

Temperature Only

A general-purpose incubator may be suitable when samples require a stable elevated temperature without controlled CO2, humidity, lighting or agitation.

Typical applications may include:

• Routine microbiology
• Sample incubation
• Culture media testing
• Educational laboratory work
• General research
• Quality-control procedures

Temperature Below or Close to Ambient

A refrigerated or cooled incubator is required when the set temperature may be below room temperature or when the experiment must remain stable despite changing ambient laboratory conditions.

Typical applications may include:

• BOD testing
• Environmental testing
• Food microbiology
• Stability studies
• Drosophila research
• Long-duration sample incubation

MUNRO Scientific lists refrigerated BOD incubators covering different capacities and controlled temperature ranges, as well as dual-chamber models for running separate conditions simultaneously.

Temperature and CO2

A CO2 incubator is designed for cultures that require a controlled carbon dioxide atmosphere in addition to temperature.

It is commonly used for:

• Mammalian cell culture
• Tissue culture
• Stem-cell research
• Organoids
• Biomedical research
• Selected microbiology and bioprocessing procedures

CO2 conditions must be selected according to the culture medium, cell type and protocol. The MUNRO range includes air-jacketed, water-jacketed, stackable, large-capacity and CO2/O2-controlled models.

Temperature and Agitation

A shaking incubator combines controlled incubation with continuous or programmed movement.

It may be appropriate for:

• Microbial cultures
• Aeration of liquid cultures
• Fermentation development
• Algae research
• Biotechnology
• Solubility studies
• Flask and bottle incubation

The correct model must match the required orbit, speed range, flask size, platform capacity and operating temperature. MUNRO lists benchtop, heat-and-cool and stackable shaking incubators.

Temperature, Light and Environmental Conditions

Growth or illuminated incubators may be required when organisms or samples respond to lighting cycles or additional environmental parameters.

Applications may include:

• Seed germination
• Plant research
• Insect studies
• Algae cultivation
• Fungal growth
• Environmental simulation

The required model depends on the lighting intensity, light distribution, day-night programming, temperature range and chamber dimensions.

Select the Incubator According to the Application

Route 1: Routine Microbiology and General Incubation

For routine microbial growth or general sample incubation, the main requirements are usually stable temperature, suitable chamber capacity and easy cleaning.

A general-purpose incubator may be sufficient when:

• The required temperature remains above ambient
• CO2 control is not needed
• Samples do not require agitation
• The laboratory does not require controlled lighting
• The process uses a relatively consistent setpoint

Natural Convection or Forced Air?

A natural convection incubator uses the natural movement of warm air within the chamber.

It may be suitable when:

• Gentle air movement is preferred
• Samples could be disturbed by strong airflow
• The workload is moderate
• Rapid recovery is not essential

A forced-air incubator uses active air circulation.

It may be more appropriate when:

• Several shelves are used
• Faster temperature recovery is important
• Chamber-wide consistency is a priority
• Door openings are frequent

Active circulation can improve uniformity and recovery, although the suitability of airflow depends on the samples and process.

Route 2: BOD, Environmental and Low-Temperature Incubation

A standard heated incubator cannot reliably maintain a temperature below the surrounding room temperature.

A refrigerated or BOD incubator should be considered when:

• The setpoint is close to or below ambient
• The laboratory temperature changes throughout the day
• Long tests require consistent conditions
• Cooling and heating are both required
• Samples must remain within a narrow controlled range

Important factors include:

• Cooling method
• Minimum and maximum temperature
• Temperature stability
• Temperature uniformity
• Heat generated by samples or internal equipment
• Recovery after door openings
• Noise and heat output into the room

For laboratories performing multiple protocols, a dual-chamber incubator can allow different conditions to operate independently within one system. MUNRO lists dual heat-and-cool chamber incubators as part of its range.

Route 3: Cell Culture and CO2-Controlled Applications

A CO2 incubator must maintain a stable culture environment while reducing the risk of contamination and excessive evaporation.

The purchasing decision should consider the complete culture workflow rather than CO2 range alone.

CO2 Sensor Selection

CO2 incubators may use thermal conductivity or infrared sensing technologies.

TC sensors can be robust and economical, especially when temperature and humidity remain relatively stable.

IR sensors directly measure CO2 and may be preferable where door openings and environmental fluctuations are more frequent.

Neither technology is universally superior. The correct choice depends on the incubator design, workflow and documentation requirements.

Air Jacket Versus Water Jacket

Air-jacketed incubators use heated air or chamber-wall heating to control temperature.

They may offer:

• Faster warm-up
• Lower installation weight
• Easier movement
• Rapid recovery in suitable designs

Water-jacketed incubators use heated water around the chamber.

They may offer:

• High thermal mass
• Strong protection against short ambient fluctuations
• Stable temperature retention

However, water-jacketed systems are heavier and may take longer to reach operating conditions. The best choice depends on workflow, installation and required recovery performance.

Humidity and Evaporation

High relative humidity is commonly used in CO2 incubation to limit evaporation from culture vessels.

Humidity management may use:

• Passive water pans
• Heated reservoirs
• Active humidification
• Water-level monitoring

The selected system affects maintenance, recovery and contamination-control procedures.

Oxygen Control

Some cell-culture applications require oxygen levels that differ from the surrounding atmosphere.

A CO2/O2 or tri-gas incubator may be considered for:

• Hypoxic culture
• Stem-cell research
• Physiological oxygen studies
• Tissue engineering
• Specialised biomedical research

The required oxygen range must be defined according to the research protocol.

Route 4: Shaking and Aerated Cultures

A shaking incubator is not simply an incubator with a moving platform.

The movement must be matched to the vessel, culture and required oxygen transfer.

Before selecting a system, define:

• Flask, bottle or tube size
• Number of vessels
• Required speed range
• Orbit diameter
• Platform load
• Clamp or holder type
• Heating or cooling requirement
• Required access during operation
• Acceptable vibration and noise

A small benchtop system may suit occasional tube and flask work, while high-throughput cultures may require a larger or stackable shaker incubator.

MUNRO's incubator range includes benchtop shaking and rotating models, heat-and-cool shaker incubators and stackable systems.

Route 5: Growth, Plant and Insect Research

Growth-related applications often require more than stable temperature.

The selection may depend on:

• Lighting intensity
• Light spectrum
• Day-night cycles
• Temperature changes over time
• Humidity control
• Internal height
• Air circulation
• Sample or plant dimensions

A chamber designed for small cultures may not provide sufficient vertical space for taller plants or suitable lighting distribution.

Before purchasing, define the complete environmental programme rather than only the required daytime temperature.

Route 6: Hybridisation and Specialised Incubation

Hybridisation incubators are designed for specific molecular biology workflows and may incorporate controlled heating and rotation.

They should be selected according to:

• Bottle or tube format
• Rotational speed
• Temperature range
• Number of samples
• Required accessories
• Cleaning requirements

MUNRO lists dedicated hybridisation incubators separately from general-purpose and shaking models.

Evaluate Performance Under Real Working Conditions

Temperature Range

The published range confirms which temperatures the incubator can reach, but it does not describe its full performance.

The routine operating setpoint is more important than the maximum temperature.

Confirm:

• Whether cooling is required
• Whether performance changes near ambient temperature
• Whether the incubator can operate continuously at the selected setpoint
• Whether additional equipment inside the chamber generates heat

Temperature Uniformity

Temperature uniformity describes the variation between different positions inside the chamber.

It matters when samples placed on different shelves must experience comparable conditions.

Ask the supplier:

• At which setpoint was uniformity measured?
• Was the chamber empty or loaded?
• How many measuring locations were used?
• Does the specification apply to the full chamber or only the usable working area?

Temperature Stability

Temperature stability describes how much the temperature changes over time at a defined location.

An incubator may be stable at the control sensor but still contain temperature differences between shelves.

Uniformity and stability must therefore be reviewed separately.

Recovery After Door Opening

Opening the door allows room air to enter and changes the controlled environment.

The recovery requirement depends on:

• Number of users
• Frequency of access
• Length of door openings
• Sample load
• Chamber design
• Air circulation
• CO2 and humidity requirements

For shared or high-throughput laboratories, recovery after door opening may be more important than minor differences between published maximum specifications.

Internal Glass and Segmented Doors

An internal glass door allows users to observe samples without fully exposing the chamber to room air.

Segmented internal doors can reduce the size of the area exposed during access and may support faster recovery in suitable CO2 incubators.

Plan Chamber Capacity Around the Workflow

Published chamber volume is not the same as usable capacity.

Consider:

• Vessel dimensions
• Number of shelves
• Required spacing
• Airflow paths
• Maximum shelf load
• Space needed for future work
• Frequency of access
• Whether multiple users will share the chamber

An oversized incubator may consume unnecessary laboratory space and energy.

An overloaded incubator may restrict airflow, increase recovery time and make cleaning difficult.

One Large Incubator or Several Smaller Units?

One large incubator may provide efficient use of space and simplify operation.

Several smaller or stackable units may offer:

• Separation between projects
• Reduced cross-contamination risk
• Different setpoints
• Backup capacity
• Easier workflow allocation

The correct approach depends on the value of the samples and the consequences of a single equipment failure.

Contamination Control and Cleaning

Contamination-control requirements should be based on the application and the materials being handled.

Useful design features may include:

• Smooth internal surfaces
• Rounded internal corners
• Removable shelves and supports
• Easy-to-clean gaskets
• HEPA filtration
• High-temperature decontamination cycles
• UV treatment where appropriate
• Copper or stainless-steel components
• Accessible humidity reservoirs

HEPA filtration can reduce airborne contaminants entering during routine door openings, while high-temperature cycles and removable components may support cleaning procedures.

No feature removes the need for a documented cleaning and contamination-control procedure.

Questions to Ask About Decontamination

Before purchasing, ask:

1. Which components can be removed for cleaning?
2. Which cleaning agents are compatible with the chamber?
3. Does the incubator include a validated or manufacturer-defined decontamination cycle?
4. Must sensors be removed before cleaning?
5. How is the humidity system cleaned?
6. How long does the incubator remain unavailable during cleaning?
7. Are filters or consumables required?
8. How often must components be replaced?

Monitoring, Alarms and Documentation

The required monitoring level depends on the value of the samples and the laboratory's quality system.

Possible features include:

• High and low temperature alarms
• CO2 deviation alarms
• Humidity or water-level alarms
• Door-open alarms
• Power-failure alarms
• Data logging
• USB export
• Remote alarm contacts
• Cloud or network monitoring
• User-access controls
• Alarm history

For critical cultures, an independent monitoring or backup plan may be appropriate.

IQ, OQ and PQ

Qualification requirements should be defined according to the laboratory's procedures and the risk associated with the samples.

Possible activities include:

• Installation Qualification
• Operational Qualification
• Performance Qualification
• Temperature mapping
• CO2 verification
• Alarm testing
• Sensor calibration
• Recovery testing

Not every laboratory or application requires the same level of qualification.

Installation and Laboratory Environment

The incubator's location can influence performance and contamination risk.

Before installation, review:

• Electrical requirements
• Gas supply
• Water requirements
• Drainage requirements
• Floor or bench capacity
• Ventilation clearance
• Heat output
• Door-opening space
• Service access
• Distance from direct sunlight
• Distance from heating and cooling vents
• Nearby laboratory traffic

Strategic placement away from high-traffic areas and strong air currents can support easier maintenance and contamination control.

Incubator Selection Map

The final selection must always be confirmed against the actual protocol, samples and required performance.

Common Selection Mistakes

Common mistakes include:

• Selecting an incubator based only on maximum temperature
• Purchasing a heated incubator when below-ambient operation is required
• Assuming all cell cultures require identical CO2 conditions
• Choosing a CO2 sensor without considering door-opening frequency
• Ignoring recovery time
• Selecting capacity based only on chamber volume
• Overloading shelves and restricting airflow
• Failing to plan cleaning and contamination control
• Ignoring gas, water or ventilation requirements
• Assuming every incubator requires identical IQ, OQ and PQ procedures
• Failing to plan backup storage for valuable samples

Questions to Answer Before Requesting a Quotation

Provide the supplier with the following information:

1. What samples or cultures will be incubated?
2. Which temperature range is required?
3. Must the incubator operate below ambient temperature?
4. Is CO2 control required?
5. Is oxygen control required?
6. Is humidity control required?
7. Is lighting required?
8. Is agitation or rotation required?
9. What vessels and sample volumes will be used?
10. How many users will access the incubator?
11. How frequently will the door be opened?
12. What contamination-control features are required?
13. What alarms and data records are required?
14. What qualification or calibration is required?
15. What installation services and utilities are available?

Laboratory Incubators from MUNRO Scientific

MUNRO Scientific supplies laboratory incubators for microbiology, cell culture, environmental testing, research, biotechnology and educational applications.

The available range includes natural-convection, forced-air, refrigerated, BOD, CO2, shaker, hybridisation, growth and dual-chamber incubators in different capacities and configurations.

Contact MUNRO Scientific with details of the required temperature, environmental controls, chamber capacity and laboratory workflow to identify a suitable incubator.

FAQ

What type of laboratory incubator do I need?

The correct incubator depends on the conditions required by the application. A general-purpose incubator controls temperature, while specialised models may also provide cooling, CO2, oxygen, humidity, lighting or agitation.

When is a refrigerated incubator required?

A refrigerated incubator is required when the selected temperature is close to or below room temperature, or when stable conditions must be maintained despite changes in ambient laboratory temperature.

What is the difference between a CO2 incubator and a standard laboratory incubator?

A standard laboratory incubator primarily controls temperature. A CO2 incubator also controls carbon dioxide and usually supports high-humidity conditions for suitable cell-culture applications.

Is an IR CO2 sensor always better than a TC sensor?

No. IR sensors may be preferred where temperature and humidity fluctuate frequently, while TC sensors can be reliable and economical under stable conditions. Selection should be based on the application and incubator design.

What is recovery time in a laboratory incubator?

Recovery time describes how quickly the incubator returns to its required temperature, gas concentration or humidity after the door has been opened or the chamber conditions have changed.

How large should a laboratory incubator be?

The incubator should provide enough usable space for the normal workload while allowing air to circulate around samples. Chamber volume alone does not represent the full usable capacity.