Written by Rachel Kohn
Enzymes are the catalysts of the biochemical reactions that comprise metabolism; they do their job without changing themselves in the process. Enzymes are responsible for bringing about almost all of the chemical reactions in living organisms. Without enzymes, these reactions take place at a rate far too slow for the pace of metabolism.*
Enzymes being studied by researchers must be stored in a enzyme freezer at temperatures in the region of -10 to -25˚C (+14 to -13˚F). When stored at higher temperatures enzymes gradually denature and lose catalytic activity. Proper storage conditions are essential to ensure that the enzymatic activity on the label is indeed the activity inside the bottle. I have many not so fond memories of failed experiments in graduate school because the rather costly purified enzyme suspensions failed to perform as expected, all due to inadequate storage.
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Written by Rachel Kohn
Laboratory refrigerators and laboratory freezers are designed and constructed to meet much stricter standards than typically found in household or commercial units. Pharmaceuticals, blood and plasma, for example, must be stored within tight temperature ranges to avoid loss of potency or spoilage. Lab refrigerators and lab freezers such as manufactured by Nor-Lake and available from Tovatech are built to meet the demanding requirements of pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers.
Design Options
Laboratory and healthcare provider purchasing agents can choose from a broad menu of sizes and configurations when looking for lab refrigerators and lab freezers. Common to all are heavy-duty refrigeration systems that work to maintain temperatures within prescribed parameters as programmed into incorporated temperature controls. Units also feature visual and audio high-low alarm systems to alert personnel if these limits are exceeded.
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Written by Rachel Kohn
A controlled environment is critical to maintaining the potency and safety of pharmaceutical products across a supply chain stretching between R&D laboratories, manufacturing facilities, transportation and storage at healthcare facilities. Examples of controlled environments include laboratory refrigerators, laboratory freezers, blood bank refrigerators, chromatography refrigerators, laboratory incubators, stability chambers and temperature test chambers.
Equipment such as this as manufactured by Norlake Scientific and offered by Tovatech is designed and constructed to comply with standards developed and promulgated by the FDA, the AABB, the Red Cross and other agencies. Once the equipment is purchased, however, the facility operator assumes the responsibility of assuring it is installed and maintained according to FDA and related guidelines.
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Written by Bob Sandor
Laboratory incubators used in microbiology laboratories and other research and development applications provide an environment for growing cultures under controlled conditions such as humidity, temperature, and CO2. Several regulations apply to operating a laboratory incubator so it is important to be certain that the laboratory equipment you buy is designed to meet your particular requirements.
Experts suggest that even before purchasing a laboratory incubator you should first consider what it will be used for and where it will be located. So instead of buying an incubator and then trying to make it fit your process or needs, turn the procedure around. This makes sense not only for assuring proper performance; it helps you pick a model that is most cost-effective for your needs.
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