Thermo Scientific Heraeus BK800 Low-Temperature Biochemical Incubator

Overview

The Thermo Scientific Heraeus BK800 Low-Temperature Biochemical Incubator is an engineered platform for precise, stable, and reproducible environmental control in life science laboratories. Designed around a forced-air convection system with independent refrigeration and heating circuits, the BK800 maintains accurate thermal conditions across its 220 L internal chamber—critical for long-term microbial cultivation, enzyme stability studies, low-temperature cell line maintenance, and biochemical assay development. Its operational range of 3–40 °C bridges the gap between standard incubators and dedicated cold rooms, enabling applications such as psychrophilic organism growth, cold-shock protein expression, and temperature-sensitive reagent storage under controlled, monitored conditions. The unit complies with IEC 61010-1 safety standards for laboratory equipment and incorporates design elements aligned with GLP-compliant workflows—including traceable temperature logging capability (when integrated with optional data acquisition modules) and audit-ready operational parameters.

Key Features

• Forced-air circulation system with dual-zone airflow management ensures ±1 °C temperature uniformity and deviation across the full working volume, verified per ISO 15212-1 protocols for incubator performance validation.
• Durable, passivated stainless-steel interior chamber with rounded, impact-resistant corners minimizes crevices and facilitates rapid decontamination using ethanol, hydrogen peroxide vapor, or quaternary ammonium solutions—reducing cross-contamination risk in multi-user labs.
• Integrated power outlets (2 × 230 V AC, fused) located on rear chamber wall support synchronized operation of internal peripherals—including magnetic stirrers, small-scale shakers, or sensor modules—with programmable timer control (1–9999 minutes).
• Intuitive soft-touch control panel with high-contrast LCD display enables direct parameter entry, real-time monitoring of setpoint/actual temperature, and access to calibration history and alarm logs without software dependency.
• Modular shelving system accommodates up to 14 adjustable stainless-steel shelves (3 included); shelf spacing is optimized for compatibility with standard ISO/IEC 8655-compliant volumetric flasks, Petri dishes, and multi-well plates.
• Front-mounted castor wheels with locking brakes allow ergonomic repositioning within constrained lab spaces while maintaining structural stability during operation.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The BK800 supports diverse sample formats including culture flasks (T25–T225), roller bottles, deep-well plates, glass serum bottles, and custom bioreactor vessels up to 5 L volume. Its non-condensing interior environment (achieved via dew-point-controlled refrigeration and insulated double-wall construction) prevents moisture accumulation on samples and optics—essential for extended incubation of hygroscopic reagents or humidity-sensitive assays. The unit meets CE marking requirements and conforms to EN 61000-6-3 (EMC emission) and EN 61000-6-2 (immunity) standards. Optional IQ/OQ documentation packages are available to support FDA 21 CFR Part 11–aligned validation for regulated environments.

Software & Data Management

While the BK800 operates autonomously via its embedded microcontroller, it supports analog voltage output (0–10 V) for external temperature recording and integrates seamlessly with Thermo Fisher’s ChronoLog™ Environmental Monitoring Suite (sold separately). This software enables centralized monitoring of multiple incubators, automated generation of PDF-formatted temperature trend reports compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 clause 7.7, and configurable email/SNMP alerts for out-of-specification events. All logged data include timestamps with NTP synchronization, user ID tagging, and immutable audit trails meeting ALCOA+ principles for data integrity.

Applications

• Growth and maintenance of cold-adapted bacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Colwellia psychrerythraea) and marine archaea at sub-ambient temperatures.
• Controlled cooling steps in molecular biology workflows—including restriction digest optimization, ligase reaction quenching, and RNA stabilization prior to extraction.
• Long-term storage of thermolabile enzymes (e.g., Taq polymerase variants, reverse transcriptases) and diagnostic antibodies without freeze-thaw cycling.
• Environmental simulation for ecotoxicology studies involving temperature-dependent bioaccumulation or metabolic rate assessment.
• Pre-incubation conditioning of cell-based biosensors and microphysiological systems requiring thermal equilibration prior to assay initiation.

FAQ

Does the BK800 support humidity control?
No—the BK800 is a dry-air, temperature-only incubator. For humidity-regulated applications, consider the Thermo Scientific Heracell series.
Can the unit be validated for GxP use?
Yes; optional IQ/OQ documentation, combined with third-party calibration certificates (traceable to NIST standards), supports qualification in GLP, GMP, and clinical trial settings.
What refrigerant is used, and is it environmentally compliant?
R600a (isobutane) is employed—a natural hydrocarbon refrigerant with zero ozone depletion potential (ODP = 0) and global warming potential (GWP) of 3, fully compliant with EU F-Gas Regulation (EU) No 517/2014.
Is remote monitoring possible without additional hardware?
Basic remote status checks require the optional Ethernet interface module; full telemetry and control necessitate integration with ChronoLog™ or compatible BMS platforms via Modbus TCP.
How often does the unit require preventive maintenance?
Annual inspection of condenser coil cleanliness, door gasket integrity, and temperature sensor calibration is recommended—per Thermo Fisher Technical Bulletin TB-BK800-REV4.