CELL CULTURE INCUBATORS CLEANING AND DECONTAMINATION METHODS Basic care for optimal performance and care in case of contamination. Includes tips to minimize contamination, proper laboratory techniques and information about active vs. passive decontamination. PHC Europe A Member of PHC Group www.phchd.com/eu/biomedical

Decontamination Methods Introduction toCell Culture Incubators Introduction to cell culture incubators 4 Important points for the installation of incubators 6 Cleaning and decontamination methods 10 Basic care of cell culture incubators 14 Tips to minimize contamination 16 Care in the event of contamination 17 Care in the event of rust 26 Best practices and good laboratory technique 27 NB: Depending on the model, the appearance of parts in the manual may differ slightly.

A cell culture incubator is designed to artificially replicate in vitro conditions essential to in vivo physiology typical of human and animal models. Cell growth outside of a natural environment presents a multitude of challenges associated with exposure to microorganisms that are not present in the in vivo state. Depending on the type of cell cultures being managed, several operating parameters must be carefully controlled with accuracy, repeatability and flexibility in setpoint choices. These include temperature and gas control. • Cell culture incubators are designed to establish and maintain...

THE INCUBATOR BUBBLE Unlike closed systems, such as hollow-fiber substrates, stirred tank or airlift bioreactors, the typical cell culture incubator is a conditioned chamber with a door that closes against a soft gasket. When the door is closed, the incubator creates an ideal environment for the cell culture process based on user defined setpoint parameters for temperature, CO2 and O2. Humidification is naturally evaporative from the humidifying tray, and an elevated relative humidity is sufficient to eliminate desiccation, especially in microplates with small media volumes. Some larger cell...

Important points for installation There are many factors to consider when determining the permanent location of the cell culture incubator. It is desirable to locate the unit where there is minimal foot traffic and where air disturbance is of little consequence. This reduces the volatility of outside air entering the incubator during a door opening. Avoid installing the incubator near windows, air conditioners, ceiling or floor HVAC air diffusers and return air intakes, all of which are sources of airborne contamination. INSTALLATION, LOCATION AND CLEARANCES It is important to consider the function...

• Locate the incubator in a clean room or location where few people enter • Choose a clean room that is safe or a place where there are as few people as possible. • Since there are fewer airborne bacteria in the upper part of a room, the incubator should be placed on a laboratory table or a special stand. • If stacking two or three units on top of each other, use a special roller base for that purpose. vibration and away from heat sources • Do not install the incubator near products that cause vibration. Vibration may adversely affect cultures. • Do not install the incubator near significant...

Most incubator manufacturers recommend a solution of ethanol and manual cleaning prior to initial start-up and regularly thereafter. The ethanol solution is intentionally diluted to give it time to kill the contaminant before the ethanol evaporates. Why is an ethanol solution better than 100% ethanol in bacterial inhibition? 100% ethanol coagulates and dehydrates proteins so quickly that a layer of relatively impermeable denatured protein forms in the exterior parts of the bacterial cell (in and under the cell wall), and this prevents further diffusion of the alcohol into the cell. This protects...

Basic care of cell culture incubators Always puts on rubber gloves before cleaning the unit. As a basic rule, do not clean the incubator with bare hands. Be sure to use rubber gloves. Necessary materials • Rubber gloves • Ethanol • Gauze, non-woven cloth, or sterile paper STEP 1 Turn off the power STEP 2 Remove the interior components. Stopper for access port Remove the components in the correct order. Clean the interior components Fan (under fan cover) Use the correct cleaning procedure. 1. Wash with a neutral detergent (soap). 2. Rinse well with distilled water. 3. Wipe with gauze, non-woven...

Spray disinfecting alcohol inside the unit and wipe (ethanol). Disinfect all interior surfaces, internal components, shelves and water tray with ethanol. Do not spray ethanol into the CO2 density measurement port directly! Just wipe off with gauze, non-woven cloth, or sterile paper which is sprayed with ethanol. Thoroughly wipe clean the inner walls of the chamber, the removed inner attachments, the temperature sensor, the humidity control bar, the UV-LED (Only for MCO-171AICUVD/ MCO-233AICUVHX, MCO-233AIC series, MCO-173AICUVHX and MCO-173AIC series) and the humidity sensor (for MCO-233AICUVHX...

Basic care of cell culture incubators STEP 7 Replace the interior components. Replace the components in the reverse order of [STEP 2], and put sterilised distilled water in the humidifying tray. 1. For MCO-233AICUVHX and MCO-173AICUVHX,compressor replace the humidifying water tank. (See page 13 for more details) 2. Replace the stopper for the access port. 3. Replace the fan, check to see if the fan spins smoothly by turning it with your hand. 4. Replace the back duct, duct cover and fan cover. 58345 5. Put back the connector cap and the humidifying tray cover and replace the humidifying tray....

1. On the control panel, tong tap the tank holder unlock button on the right side of the Home screen. 2. Fully pull the humidifying tank holder toward you. 3. Remove the humidifying water supply tube connected to the top part of the tank cap on the front side by rotating the luer fitting counterclockwise. 4. Hold the top part of the water tank and tilt it a little, and then remove the water tank from the tank holder. 5. Close the humidifying tank holder. 1. On the control panel, long tap the tank holder unlock button on the right side of the Home screen. 2. Fully pull the humidifying tank holder...