English Product Name

Overview

The Macono GHP-50 Water-Jacketed Temperature-Controlled Incubator is a precision-engineered life science instrument designed for stable, long-term thermal environments required in microbiological culture, cell propagation, enzyme activity studies, and strain preservation. Unlike forced-air incubators, the GHP-50 employs a passive water-jacket thermal mass system—where heated water circulates around the inner chamber walls—to deliver exceptional thermal inertia and minimal temperature fluctuation. This architecture eliminates overshoot during setpoint transitions and ensures high reproducibility across extended incubation cycles (e.g., 72–168 h), making it suitable for applications demanding strict adherence to ISO 13408-1 (sterile processing of medical devices) and CLSI M22-A3 (microbiological quality control). The unit operates without internal fans or air circulation, reducing desiccation risk for agar plates and liquid cultures—a critical advantage over convection-based alternatives.

Key Features

• Stainless steel water jacket fabricated via argon arc welding for corrosion resistance and structural integrity under continuous humid operation.
• Dual-pane tempered glass observation door with silicone rubber gasket seal—minimizes thermal leakage while enabling non-invasive visual monitoring without disturbing chamber equilibrium.
• Microprocessor-based digital temperature controller with ±0.5 °C accuracy (typical), featuring real-time display, adjustable PID parameters, and automatic alarm activation upon deviation beyond user-defined thresholds.
• Independent water-level monitoring circuit triggers audible/visual alerts if jacket water volume falls below operational minimum or exceeds safe fill level—preventing dry-heating damage or overflow.
• Externally mounted heating elements isolate thermal generation from the culture chamber, eliminating hot spots and ensuring uniform heat transfer through conduction only.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The GHP-50 accommodates standard Petri dishes (90 mm and 150 mm), multi-well plates (6–96-well), test tubes (13 × 100 mm, 16 × 150 mm), and Erlenmeyer flasks (up to 500 mL). Its sealed, fanless environment maintains sterility during routine use and supports GLP-compliant documentation workflows when paired with external data loggers (e.g., compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when validated). While not certified to IEC 61010-1 or EN 61326-1 out-of-the-box, the unit meets essential safety requirements for Class II laboratory equipment per GB 4793.1–2007 (Chinese national standard equivalent to IEC 61010-1). It is routinely deployed in QC labs adhering to USP environmental monitoring protocols and ISO/IEC 17025-accredited facilities where incubation stability is traceable to NIST-traceable reference thermometers.

Software & Data Management

The GHP-50 operates as a standalone analog-digital hybrid system with no embedded firmware or network interface. All configuration and monitoring occur via front-panel controls and LED display. For regulatory compliance, users integrate external validation-grade data loggers (e.g., DeltaTRAK FlashPaq or Omega OM-DAQPRO-5300) connected to calibrated PT100 probes placed at multiple chamber locations (top/middle/bottom, center/periphery) per ISO 14644-3 Annex B. Audit trails, calibration records, and alarm logs are maintained manually or imported into LIMS platforms such as LabVantage or Thermo Fisher SampleManager. Optional RS-485 serial output (available on upgraded firmware versions) enables basic remote status polling but does not support full parameter control or real-time data streaming.

Applications

• Maintenance of bacterial and fungal stock cultures (e.g., ATCC strains) at defined temperatures (typically 25 °C, 30 °C, or 37 °C) for up to 4 weeks without medium dehydration.
• Incubation of antibiotic susceptibility testing plates (e.g., Kirby-Bauer assays) requiring strict thermal consistency per CLSI M02-A12 guidelines.
• Pre-incubation of ELISA plates and Western blot membranes prior to detection steps where ambient humidity-induced condensation must be avoided.
• Long-duration enzymatic reaction studies (e.g., protease kinetics) where temperature drift >±0.3 °C would compromise Michaelis-Menten parameter estimation.
• Seed germination trials in agricultural research where diurnal temperature cycling is unnecessary but baseline stability is critical.

FAQ

Does the GHP-50 include humidity control capability?
No—the GHP-50 is a temperature-only water-jacketed incubator. Humidity regulation requires integration with an external saturated salt chamber or separate humidification module, which is not supplied or validated by Macono.
What is the recommended maintenance interval for the water jacket?
Drain, clean, and refill the jacket with deionized water every 3 months to prevent mineral scaling. Use biocide-treated water if operating above 30 °C for >72 hours continuously.
Can this incubator be used for CO₂-sensitive applications?
No—it lacks gas-tight sealing or CO₂ injection ports. It is intended solely for ambient-air incubation; CO₂-dependent cultures require dedicated CO₂ incubators meeting ISO 13408-2 specifications.
Is the unit compatible with IQ/OQ/PQ validation protocols?
Yes—its mechanical simplicity, absence of software, and stable thermal profile make it highly suitable for installation qualification (IQ) and operational qualification (OQ); performance qualification (PQ) requires user-defined acceptance criteria per ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 5.4.5.
What warranty coverage applies to the water-jacket weld integrity?
Macono provides a 12-month limited warranty covering manufacturing defects in the stainless steel jacket, excluding damage from improper water treatment, freezing, or physical impact.