Yiheng MJ-150-II Mold Incubator

Overview

The Yiheng MJ-150-II Mold Incubator is a purpose-engineered environmental chamber designed for controlled fungal culture, microbial preservation, and long-term stability testing of biological samples under regulated temperature and humidity conditions. Unlike standard incubators, the MJ-150-II integrates dual-parameter environmental control—precise thermoregulation combined with active humidity management—making it suitable for ISO/IEC 17025-accredited microbiology labs, pharmaceutical quality control units, and academic research facilities conducting ASTM D3273 (mold resistance testing), USP /, or EP 2.6.12 compliant assays. Its forced-air convection system ensures rapid thermal equilibration and minimizes stratification, while the mirror-finish stainless-steel interior (AISI 304) provides corrosion resistance, non-porous surface integrity, and compatibility with routine disinfection protocols including UV-C irradiation (254 nm). The unit operates within a biologically relevant ambient envelope (5–30 °C ambient), supporting BOD incubation, mycological isolation, and environmental simulation per EN 14644-1 cleanroom qualification guidelines.

Key Features

• Mirror-polished AISI 304 stainless-steel inner chamber with radius-rounded corners for seamless cleaning and reduced microbial retention.
• Dual independent control architecture: mechanical thermostatic regulation with analog feedback loop and dedicated humidity actuation via evaporative humidification and integrated condensation recovery.
• Forced convection system with variable-speed centrifugal fan—automatically modulated to prevent desiccation of sensitive cultures during extended incubation cycles.
• Dedicated UV germicidal lamp (254 nm, 15 W) mounted in the chamber ceiling for post-cycle decontamination; interlocked with door switch for operator safety compliance (IEC 61000-4-2).
• Independent overtemperature cut-off circuit (mechanical bimetallic switch) providing fail-safe thermal protection without reliance on primary controller logic.
• Energy-efficient R134a refrigerant-based cooling module (for MJ-F and MJ-II variants), engineered for stable sub-ambient operation down to 10 °C with low power draw (2250 W nominal input).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The MJ-150-II accommodates standard microbiological vessels—including Petri dishes (up to 150 mm diameter), test tubes (16 × 150 mm), multi-well plates, and sterile flasks—on three adjustable stainless-steel shelves (load capacity: 15 kg/shelf). Its uniform humidity distribution (±5–8 %RH fluctuation across working volume) meets requirements for filamentous fungi growth (e.g., Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum) per CLSI M38-A3 and EUCAST E.DEF 9.3. The chamber complies with GB/T 23703.1–2009 (Chinese national standard for mold incubators), carries CE marking per Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, and supports GLP-compliant documentation when paired with optional RS485 interface modules. All materials contacting the internal environment are RoHS-compliant and non-outgassing under sustained 45 °C/85 %RH exposure.

Software & Data Management

While the MJ-150-II employs a mechanical control interface for operational simplicity and regulatory robustness, it includes an RS485 serial port (Modbus RTU protocol) enabling integration into centralized lab monitoring systems (e.g., LabVantage, Thermo Fisher SampleManager). Optional thermal printer output provides time-stamped hardcopy logs of temperature and humidity profiles—critical for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 audit trails when used in GMP environments. Data logging resolution is 0.1 °C / 1 %RH with timestamping accuracy ±2 seconds/day (real-time clock with battery backup). No proprietary software installation is required; third-party SCADA platforms can poll parameters at user-defined intervals (1–300 sec).

Applications

• Regulatory microbiological testing: enumeration of molds and yeasts in pharmaceutical excipients (USP ), cosmetics (ISO 16212), and food matrices (ISO 21527-1).
• BOD₅ incubation per APHA Standard Methods 5210B, maintaining strict 20 ± 0.5 °C and >90 %RH conditions for dissolved oxygen depletion assays.
• Fungal strain preservation and subculturing in clinical mycology labs—particularly for dermatophytes requiring elevated humidity (>75 %RH) at 25–28 °C.
• Environmental stress testing of packaging materials per ASTM D4332 and ISO 2233 for moisture-induced degradation.
• Plant pathology studies involving spore germination kinetics under controlled hygrothermal gradients.

FAQ

Does the MJ-150-II support programmable ramp-soak temperature profiles?
No—this model uses fixed-point mechanical control and does not feature programmable sequencing. For gradient incubation, consider the Yiheng MJ-150F-II with microprocessor-based controller.
Is the UV lamp ozone-free?
Yes—the low-pressure mercury lamp emits exclusively at 254 nm and produces negligible ozone (<0.005 ppm), complying with OSHA PEL standards for occupied-space decontamination.
Can the unit maintain 85 %RH at 45 °C continuously?
It achieves 85 %RH at 45 °C with ≤2-hour stabilization time, though prolonged operation at this extreme corner of the operating envelope may reduce compressor service life; recommended duty cycle: ≤16 hrs/day.
What is the validation support package available?
Yiheng provides IQ/OQ documentation templates aligned with ISO 13485 and Annex 11, including sensor calibration certificates (NIST-traceable Pt100 probes), airflow mapping reports, and temperature/humidity uniformity test protocols.
Are spare parts such as humidifier wicks and UV lamps stocked internationally?
Yes—authorized distributors carry consumables with lead times under 5 business days; humidifier wicks (part #MJ-HUM-WK-01) and UV tubes (part #MJ-UV-TUBE-254) are cross-compatible across all MJ-II series units.