Forma incubators are warm air-jacketed to provide uniform heating throughout the chamber and therefore are not prone to internal condensation, which can be a breeding site for airborne contaminants. The humidity supply system is located outside of the chamber on some models and can be filled through an external port. Water-jacketed models are HEPA filtered and have optional copper shelves, ductwork, and humidity pans. The decontamination cycle can last from four to seven hours and eliminates the accumulation of bacteria and fungi. Clean humidity is provided by an external steam generator, which boils the water outside of the chamber.
Units are also stackable, conserving valuable lab space.
The TC sensor is placed under tight control through periodic auto-zero testing and compensation for the humidity level. The water reservoir in the HERAcell is found in the tilted inner casing, eliminating the need for a humidity pan. A convenient pull-out storage tray can be used for placement of cultures or for the jotting of notes. LabLine incubators have security password protection, which prevents unauthorized users from changing the set points. For those labs in need of more culture space, LabLine makes 34 cubic ft. automatic and flow-through models.