Anaerobic Incubator

What is the Anaerobic Incubator?

An anaerobic incubator is a temperature-controlled cabinet that maintains a reduced atmosphere, allowing many plates to be incubated anaerobically without individual jars or sachets. It suits routine laboratories with steady anaerobic culture volumes.

Overview

An anaerobic incubator combines a gastight chamber with temperature control, gas management and, in most designs, an airlock for loading plates. The working volume is flushed with a nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide mixture and circulated through a catalyst so that oxygen stays at low parts per million. Temperature is controlled across the range used for clinical and food microbiology, typically from ambient to about 45 degrees Celsius, with forced-air or water-jacket uniformity. Because plates stay in a single atmosphere, the incubator removes the labor and cost of individual gas sachets and gives more consistent conditions. Some models include a small viewing window, internal lighting or a port for gas sampling and oxygen monitoring. Access during incubation is limited, so incubators suit incubation rather than continuous manipulation.

How does it work?

Anaerobic systems remove oxygen and hold a reduced environment. Sealed jars and flexible bags use a gas-generating sachet that reacts with water to consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide and hydrogen, while a palladium catalyst combines residual hydrogen with oxygen to form water. Larger chambers repeatedly flush the working volume with a nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide mixture and circulate the atmosphere through the catalyst to keep oxygen below a few parts per million. Methylene blue or resazurin indicators confirm anaerobiosis by color change, and an anaerobic incubator maintains both the atmosphere and a precise temperature. Airlocks let plates and samples enter without introducing air, and gloves or sleeves allow manipulation inside the chamber.

What are the key features?

• Gastight chamber with temperature control
• Nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide atmosphere control
• Circulating palladium catalyst keeps oxygen low
• Airlock or pass-through for plate loading
• Continuous oxygen display with alarm

What are the technical specifications?

A typical anaerobic incubator configuration offers temperature range of Ambient +5 to 45 °C, temperature uniformity of ±0.5 °C, oxygen level of Below 10 ppm (working), atmosphere of N2 base with 5% CO2, 5–10% H2, internal volume of 80–400 L and catalyst of Palladium, internal circulation. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The Anaerobic Incubator is used in routine clinical anaerobic culture, food and beverage microbiological testing, pharmaceutical environmental monitoring and research on anaerobic bacteria. Across the wider Anaerobic Systems class, laboratories also deploy it for clinical microbiology of anaerobic infections, food microbiology and spoilage testing and environmental and water analysis.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include ISO 15213, ISO 7937, ISO 11133, CLSI M11 and IEC 61010-1. Certification candidates for this model are CE, ISO 9001 manufacturing and IEC 61010-1 compliance; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Place gas-generating jars and bags in an incubator at the required temperature and record the start time, because anaerobiosis develops over one to two hours. Check catalyst activity regularly, since saturated palladium stops working and must be regenerated by heating. Replace indicators each run and keep a log. For chambers and workstations, verify oxygen readings with an independent analyzer, monitor gas supply and pressure, replace gloves when they leak and schedule catalyst and filter service. Avoid introducing large volumes of air through the airlock too quickly. Include anaerobic systems in routine equipment qualification and follow IEC 61010-1 for electrical safety.

How do I select the right Anaerobic Incubator?

Choose an anaerobic incubator when you culture anaerobic plates routinely and want to avoid individual jars. In an RFQ specify temperature range and uniformity, internal volume, atmosphere composition, oxygen monitoring, airlock type, gas consumption and any validation documentation required.

How does it compare with other Anaerobic Systems variants?

Choose by the number of samples, the duration of work and how much manipulation is needed. Anaerobic jars and bag systems suit occasional plates and small batches at low cost, with jars supporting stacked plates and bags giving a single-use option. Anaerobic incubators handle routine plate volumes with temperature control but little access during incubation. Workstations and glove boxes allow continuous plating, subculture and identification under a controlled atmosphere, which is essential for clinical anaerobe work and for slow-growing organisms. Confirm the oxygen level achieved and how it is monitored, the catalyst and indicator system, temperature range and uniformity, airlock and port capacity, gas consumption, and whether an internal incubator is included. For regulated laboratories, ask for validation and calibration documentation.