Water bath incubators have many uses. These include drying and shaking water baths, heat blocks, and incubated orbital shakers. These instruments are used to hold the temperature of a solution during a particular procedure. Water baths are also used to protect samples and cells from damage during incubation.
Uses of Water Bath Incubators
Dry Baths
When choosing a waterbath incubator, you have a few options. You can choose a model with various capacities and volumes and add extra blocks for more versatile uses. In addition, you can control the temperature of your dry bath digitally or through an analog control. Different models have different power and temperature ranges, so you should carefully consider the specifications before making your final decision.
Dry metallic thermal media is an excellent alternative to water in traditional water bath incubators. This eliminates a common source of contamination found in labs. While water is excellent for many purposes, some experiments have better choices, and markers can quickly come off. This alternative is the way to go if you plan on doing enzymatic experiments. In addition, circulating water baths allow for more consistent and uniform temperatures, which is essential for serologic experiments. Besides, circulating water baths also have extra shaking controls, allowing liquid-grown cells to mix continuously with air.
Shaking Water Baths
Shaking water baths are versatile for heating, mixing, and thawing samples. However, their capacity varies from vendor to vendor, so choosing a model that meets your needs is essential. For maximum longevity, look for stainless steel interiors. Many models feature magnetically coupled shaking mechanisms. Some models also feature adjustable shaking speeds and programmability.
Shaking water baths are great for maintaining a constant temperature and are often used in testing for food, materials, corrosion, and more. They’re also helpful for bacterial culturing and molecular biology assays. The key features to look for when purchasing a shaking water bath are capacity, temperature, programmability, and price.
Incubated Orbital Shakers
There are some advantages to using water bath incubators for orbital shaker experiments. One is that the shaking motion is controlled outside the incubator chamber. This allows the temperature to remain stable. Another advantage is that the orbital shaker can be transported easily. The ES-20 is a portable orbital shaker with a convenient two-line set-up system. Its clear display also gives clear indications of the set and actual values.
Another great feature of water bath shakers is that they can be microprocessor-controlled for a continuous orbital shaking action. This feature makes monitoring the temperature and speeds easy without checking the controls. These shakers also have a low-level water sensor and an integral drain. Some models come with free software to control them from your PC. Some also include anti-slip platforms for culture flas and straps to secure tubes.
Heat Blocks
Incubators have two main methods for heating samples: water baths for labs and heat blocks. Both methods have their benefits and drawbacks. Heat blocks are a good option for heating samples in tubes and flasks and offer accurate temperature control and safety. Heat blocks have built-in temperature calibration and automatic fault detection. They also have a timer and temperature display, so users know exactly how long the samples have been exposed to heat.
One advantage of the heating block over the water bath is that it has a relatively short come-up time compared to a water bath. A heating block will also heat bacteria more slowly, which is suitable for devices determining bacteria’s heat resistance.
Serology Laboratory Water Baths
Serology laboratory water baths are used to incubate and culture samples for various laboratory applications. They have various features, such as an ergonomic design, safety cut-offs, and a digital temperature controller. Serological water baths are also energy efficient and require minimal maintenance.
Serology water baths come in various sizes and types to suit different labs. The size of the bath depends on the sample volume and potential contaminants. Most serological water baths range from 1.5 to 43 liters. Different models feature a digital or analog interface to control the temperature. The water bath is typically heated to between 37 and 56 degrees Celsius. Some models have additional features, such as a rack for tubes and a roof-top cover to keep the temperature constant.
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