By Kim McDonald, 20 July 2023
Mammalian cell cultures can become contaminated with microbial contaminants (e.g., fungi, bacteria, and yeast) as well as viruses. An estimated 25% of all cell cultures are contaminated with mycoplasma bacterium alone. Contamination can affect cell viability, inhibit normal cellular processes, and lead to inconsistent results and experimental failures. Sources of contamination include working surfaces, reagents, personnel, and instrumentation. Water is excellent at conducting heat and equally great at becoming contaminated. Thus, water baths and CO2 incubators are notorious for fostering the growth of bacteria, yeast, algae, and fungi, which can result in contaminated cultures. We’ve outlined best practices to ensure your water baths and CO2 incubators do not ruin your next mammalian cell or tissue culture experiment.
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By Kim McDonald, 27 June 2023
Both water and bead baths are used to warm laboratory reagents, such as media, as well as incubate samples. As the names imply, a water bath is full of water, and a bead bath is filled with thermal metal beads. Water conducts heat evenly, whereas bead baths can cause uneven temperature distribution. When using a bead bath, it is a good idea to use a temperature probe to check for the temperature near your sample or reagent. Water baths are prone to contamination, whereas bead baths, such as those filled with aluminum Lab Armor® thermal beads, are resistant to contamination. This is especially important for applications where samples or reagents must stay sterile, such as cell or tissue culture media.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 11 May 2021
Using an ultrasonic bath improperly can cause a range of issues. Discover the key best practices to follow to ensure you use your bath safely and efficiently.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 09 April 2021
Trapped gases in liquids can be undesirable for many applications. We explore why we might need to degas solutions and how to do this using an ultrasonic bath.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 05 February 2021
Sustainability is a core goal for an increasing number of organizations. We reveal the main factors to consider when choosing a more environmentally-friendly chiller.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 05 February 2021
Find out about the reasons you’d want to calculate the amount of heat generated by a recirculating chiller and how to carry out the necessary calculations.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 21 April 2020
We take a look at the equation for calculating heating or cooling time and the reasons you should look for a system with slightly more power than you think you need.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 07 February 2020
We discuss the importance of thermal conductivity and specific heat as they relate to bath and chiller fluids, and list the values for common fluids.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 05 December 2019
Dealing with warm or hot oil can be dangerous for a number of reasons. We discuss tips to help you mitigate the risks involved with using an oil bath.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 23 September 2019
We explain what cooling capacity is and what factors affect it, as well as how to determine the cooling capacity you need for your application.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 20 June 2019
We explain how frequency affects ultrasonic cleaning and why you likely don’t need a range of frequencies.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 24 March 2019
External circulation can be closed-loop or open-loop. Find out about the differences between the two and the implications when choosing a chiller or circulating bath.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 05 March 2019
Find out about some of the equipment available for external circulation and the factors to consider when choosing your unit.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 16 November 2018
The decision of which liquid or material to use in your bath will depend on your specific application. We explain the options available and factors to consider.
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By Aimee O'Driscoll, 17 July 2018
Find out how to properly use and maintain your chiller so that in stays in good working order for longer.
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