INCUBATOR FOR MIDTERMS

Question 1

provides a temperature-controlled environment to support the growth of microbiological cultures

Answer 1

laboratory incubator

Question 2

True or False

Typical incubators are insulated boxes with an adjustable heater, going up to 60°C to 65°C (140°F to 149°F), though some can go slightly higher (generally to no more than 100°C).

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The operation of a lab incubator is based on the ___________, in which a thermostat maintains a stable temperature by generating a thermal gradient

Answer 3

thermoelectric principle

Question 4

Under thermal gradient conditions, any conductor produces a voltage, which is known as the ________________

Answer 4

thermoelectric effect

Question 5

True or False
About the Principle of an Incubator

When the circuit is energised, the lab incubator is heated to a set temperature (e.g. 40°C). The compatibility and efficient performance of temperature sensors, temperature controllers and temperature contactors are key factors in maintaining temperature.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

Once the cultures of organisms are created, the culture plates are to be placed inside an incubator at the desired temperature and required period of time. In most clinical laboratories, the usual temperature to be maintained is ________ for bacteria.

Answer 6

35–37°C

Question 7

Procedure for Running an Incubator

1. Before using the incubator, it should be made sure that no remaining items are present in the incubator from the previous cycles.
   - However, in some cases, if the same incubator is being used for multiple organisms, and they require the same set of parameters, they can be placed together in the same incubator.
2. The door of the incubator is then kept closed, and the incubator is switched on. The incubator has to be heated up to the desired temperature of the growth of the particular organism. The thermometer can be used to see if the temperature has reached.

3.In the meantime, if the organism requires a particular concentration of CO2 or a specific humidity, those parameters should also be set in the incubator.

Answer 7

True

Question 8

Procedure for Running an Incubator

4. Once all the parameters are met, the petri dish cultures are placed on the perforated shelves upside down, i.e., media uppermost. This is necessary because if the plates are incubated normally, condensation collects on the surface of the medium and prevents the formation of isolated colonies.
5. If it is necessary to incubate Petri dish cultures for several days, the plates are sealed with adhesive tapes or are placed in plastic bags or plastic food containers.
6. Now, the door is locked, and the plates are kept inside for the required time before taking
   them out.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

• frame of the whole incubator
• outer layer: corrosion-resistant stainless steel plate
• inner layer: aluminum w/ good thermal conductivity
• two walls are filled with glass wool to ensure better temperature control
• inside the incubator: an inward protrusion to support the shelves inside the lab incubator

Answer 9

Cabinet

Question 10

• made of transparent glass with an insulating layer, which makes it easy to observe the status inside the incubator
• fitted with an asbestos door gasket to prevent entry of outside air

Answer 10

Door

Question 11

• monitor the temperature, humidity and other parameters inside the incubator, with all the switches and control keys

Answer 11

Control Panel

Question 12

• affixed to the incubator’s inner wall and function as the platform upon which the culture media plates are placed

Answer 12

Perforated Shelves

Question 13

The __________ allow for controlled air movement within the cabinet
- some incubators feature removable shelves for easy cleaning

Answer 13

Perforations

Question 14

• used to set the desired temperature of the incubator
• once the desired temperature is reached, this automatically maintains the lab incubator until the temperature changes again

Answer 14

Thermostat

Question 15

• provides an almost airtight seal between the door and the cabinet
• this seal prevents outside air from infiltrating the cabinet, thus maintaining a stable internal environment

Answer 15

Asbestos Door Gasket

Question 16

• places on the incubator’s top exterior wall to read temperature levels accurately
• one end with a ________ extends slightly into the chamber, while the other end displays the readings outside the device for easy monitoring

Answer 16

L-Shaped Thermometer

mercury bulb

Question 17

• some incubators, especially CO2 types, come with a reservoir beneath the chamber for water storage
• water is vaporized to maintain relative humidity inside the chamber
• likewise, these incubators also have gas chambers to control the level of CO2

Answer 17

Humidity and Gas Control

Question 18

What are the types of incubators?

Answer 18

• Cooled/Refrigerated Incubator
• Shaking Incubator
• Portable Incubator
• Benchtop Incubator
• CO2 Incubator
• Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) Incubator
• Anaerobic Incubator
• Constant Temperature and Humidity Incubator
• Analog Incubator
• Digital Incubator

Question 19

• has built-in refrigeration system that keeps things cool, even when it’s hot outside
• ______ help to circulate fresh air and ensure the temperature is evenly distributed
• the incubator also has sensors to monitor the temperature accurately

Answer 19

Cooled/Refrigerated Incubator

• fans

Question 20

• this incubator is designed to supply a good amount of oxygen and nutrients to help cells grow well
• combine shaking and incubation in one machine, giving cells a good mix of oxygen and nutrients for optimal growth
• useful for growing all sorts of cells, like bacteria, tissues, and yeast

Answer 20

Shaking Incubator

Question 21

• enable microbiological testing in remote locations and in settings with limited resources
• can remove the difficulty of sample transportation, reducing the possibility of sample deterioration

Answer 21

Portable Incubator

Question 22

• the majority of these incubators contain alarms, a glass door, and a display screen with the temperature and the time
• the temperature varies from the surrounding air to _____

Answer 22

Benchtop Incubator

• 100°C

Question 23

• in life science labs, airtight, climate-controlled ________ are used to produce biological cell cultures
• must preserve the same conditions as those found inside the human body

Answer 23

CO2 Incubators

Question 24

• frequently referred to as low-temperature incubators because ______ and _____ need a low temperature for growth
• it is named like this since low temperature of 20-25˚C is also required for biological oxygen demand testing

Answer 24

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) Incubator

• yeast and molds

Question 25

• used to maintain and operate bacteria in an atmosphere devoid of oxygen
• the most challenging anaerobic organisms to grow can be grown, and it eliminates the risk of anaerobic organisms dying from oxygen exposure while working in the atmosphere

Answer 25

Anaerobic Incubator

Question 26

• this incubator’s precise temperature and humidity control system creates a variety of environmental simulation conditions needed for industrial research and biotechnology testing

Answer 26

Constant Temperature and Humidity Incubator

Question 27

• the simplest form of incubator
• inexpensive and simple to use
• the precision of this incubator is lower than that of the digital incubator
• there is not any other display board
• as a result, it does not allow an individual to view the inside chamber’s actual temperature

Answer 27

Analog Incubator

Question 28

• very expensive but simple to use
• better accuracy
• has a display board that enables users to view the real temperature of the inside chamber

Answer 28

Digital Incubator

Question 29

Precautions During Use of Incubator

1. Do not repeatedly open the door of incubator to avoid _________________
2. All the parameters are required for growth of microorganism should be set ______ placing the plate in the incubator
3. Culture plates should be placed __________ to avoid condensation of water
4. Incubator should be cleaned properly to avoid __________

Answer 29

1. temperature fluctuation
2. before
3. upside down
4. contamination

Question 30

Application of the Incubator to the Microbiology and Parasitology

In microbiology and parasitology, incubators provide controlled environments ( _________, ________, and ________) for the growth and maintenance of microorganisms and parasites. They ensure optimal conditions for culturing bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other organisms for research, diagnosis, and testing.

Answer 30

temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels

Question 31

Clean Cell Culture Incubators in 6 Easy Steps

Enumerate the Steps

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Answer 31

1. Turn the Power Off.
2. Remove Interior Components.
3. Clean the Interior Components.
4. Spray Disinfecting Alcohol.
5. Replace the Interior Components.
6. Let the Incubator Air Dry with the Door Ajar.

Question 32

True or False

Do not wipe the same portion of the sterile non-woven cloth more than once.

Answer 32

True

Question 33

Filters that prevent contamination by purifying the air inside the incubator

Answer 33

High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters