CO2 Incubator analyser speeds gas readings in IVF, stem cell and virus applications

With IVF, stem cell applications and formulations for immunisation programmes, live-virus vaccines and in embryology labs, CO₂ incubator gas levels must be doubly assured. An external portable independent CO₂ incubator gas analyser can be all that stands between project success and failure if the onboard analyser has not been calibrated and then verified. Too late if the first discovery is that cells are damaged or destroyed.

At one company, the Geotech G100 CO₂ incubator gas analyser is used to verify incubator CO₂ levels after high-temperature decontamination at 90 degrees Celsius in a Class II lab. That can affect on-board CO₂ monitors. At the lab, which is involved in sensitive research and so is not named, they run high-temperature decontamination on hundreds of incubators. Afterwards the G100 independently validates the on-board equipment and verifies each of the CO₂ concentrations.

IVF and data download for QC
A Geotech G100 CO₂ incubator gas analyser, chosen for its data logging and data download, capability went into immediate use. It was selected for those functions at a UK HFEA Licensed Centre for Reproductive Medicine. This fertility clinic provides IVF services to the NHS and private clients. The clinic advised that it found start up with the G100 easy. The data is downloaded to a computer as part of routine validation, record keeping and ability to prove incubator environments are correct. “This is part of QC management and provides data for regular inspections including those by The Human Fertility and Embryology Authority,” said a clinical scientist and embryologist at the fertility clinic.

CO₂ verified in NHS incubators
Stockton QC Lab tests CO₂ and other controlled-atmosphere incubators. The lab provides regional QA/QC for hospitals and IVF clinics, NHS and others, within the North East of England. According to Ian Buckingham, gas systems and workplace monitoring specialist, and Regional QC (MPGS), “Before we had the Geotech G100 we used a CO₂ analyser with a collection separate instruments for RH and temperature. Using one instrument is much simpler and easier. The G100 works very well. Anyone of our team is happy to pick it up and take it to site to analyse and quality check incubators.
“It is much quicker now with everything all in one instrument and easier to work with the various isolators. The G100 takes up much less space and we put it right inside laminar flow cabinets, while they are in use and running, with the RH probe and the longer temperature probe to ensure stable readings - and the built-in moisture removal works well."

Pfizer double-checks CO₂ incubators with portable gas analyser – Fast!
Pfizer quality checks 25 medical incubators with a Geotech G100 CO₂ incubator gas analyser to confirm CO₂ environments are as required – taking just two minutes for each. The medical incubators, kept at 37 degrees Celsius and five percent carbon dioxide (CO2), are manufacturer-fitted to regulate themselves and display their environments. “Now we can double check and every month we do a QC check to be sure the CO2 is at five percent,” said Tim Stroud, associate scientist at Pfizer.

Using the G100, supplied by GEM Scientific, Pfizer found some variations of up to three percent in CO₂ concentration, mainly as a result of frequent opening and closing of incubator doors. Identifying this led to fine-tuning and ensured target CO₂ concentrations were maintained.

With checks initially made every two weeks, the G100 confirmed Pfizer’s 25 incubators are all performing as set up and verifies CO2 concentration are as displayed on the front. Soon the fortnightly checks will be made monthly as repeated readings confirm each incubator’s performance. “Checking an incubator by attaching the G100 to a sample port only takes a couple of minutes so we can do all 25 within an hour,” said Tim Stroud.
“What prompted us to buy the G100 was some variable data we had been getting from an experiment, which we thought could be due to fluctuating CO₂ concentrations and we wanted to determine if that was the case. We are also able to show colleagues, when checking any ‘strange’ experimental results, if the incubator environment was as required at the time of running their experiment,” he confirmed.
Using a portable independent incubator gas analyser is new to Tim Stroud’s department who said, “Using the G100 is very easy, so is calibration and is simply explained in the user manual.”

Moisture removal built-in
The Geotech G100 CO₂ Incubator portable gas analyser with built in moisture removal for increased stability can optionally measure oxygen (O₂), humidity and top and bottom temperatures simultaneously with twin temperature probes. The G100 can also download via a USB PC/Internet cable.

Engineered and designed from user research
The accuracy and stability of the G100, being fully configurable using only the keypad with a large, easy-to-read backlit display and built-in moisture removal were developed in the Geotech G100 in response to user-researched priorities. The high capacity Li-Ion battery for a long operating periods, PC connectivity, data download and and the choice of continuous mains powered operation are all as users requested. With a large memory capacity for 1000 readings and time-saving twin-temperature probes for simultaneous top and bottom readings, the Geotech G100 CO₂ incubator gas analyser more than meets user demands.

Easy to use and download data
“The G100 is really easy to use. From taking it out of the box I had totally understood in less than an hour. It was really easy. There are a couple of User Manual discs with everything you need and you just set the G100 and start it - and you are up and running. It has been working really well,” said Darcy Bertie at Sustainagro who keeps the G100 running continuously using the data logging facility and downloads to a PC.

For more on the G100 Geotech CO₂ incubator gas analyser for applications including IVF, stem cell and embryology work please visit, www.geotech.co.uk