Hi all,
My cell culture incubator is experiencing some CO2 problems. Every time I open the door (even if just for the amount of time to get the cells out), the CO2 level drops like 3%. The tank is full, there's water in the pan, no leaks that we can tell. Any ideas?
Side note: my cells are all dying/going through media like crazy. Any help is appreciated!
Hi Kimberly,
it's normal to see the CO2 level drop if the door is opened. It should however recover relatively quickly when closed again. Open and close the door very gently to keep the draft at a minimum.
The CO2 is required to keep the pH of the medium balanced. If the CO2 level is low, the pH of the medium will change after some time, affecting cell growth. The most common mediums have a pH sensitive dye added that will indicate if the pH is off. Short term drops in CO2 should not really affect your cell growth, though if you're uncertain you can try to use CO2 independent growth medium.
Best,
Martin
Kimberly,
CO2 is heavier than air, so when you open the door the CO2 will flow out onto the floor. I suggest you use a tank or chest freezer (switched off) so when you open the lid the CO2 does not escape.
Cheers, Alastair.
Thanks all for your answers. It turns out our sensor was off, so once we recalibrated everything, it all went back to normal (including the CO2 drop when we open the door)!
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