Introduction
A gel card incubator is a laboratory instrument used in blood banking and immunohematology to incubate gel cards, which are used in blood typing, crossmatching, and antibody screening tests, at a controlled temperature, and it is used in blood banks, clinical laboratories, and transfusion services. The gel card technique is a method for agglutination testing, in which blood samples and reagents are mixed in the microtubes of a gel card, and the card is incubated and then centrifuged to separate agglutinated and unagglutinated cells; the gel card incubator maintains the cards at the specified incubation temperature, typically 37 degrees Celsius, for the required incubation time, and it holds the cards in racks or trays, and it provides accurate and uniform temperature control, with a digital display, a timer, and alarms, and the incubation is an essential step in the test procedure, since the temperature and time affect the antibody-antigen reactions. Gel card incubators are used in blood banks for routine ABO and Rh blood typing, for antibody screening and identification, for crossmatching donor and recipient blood, for direct antiglobulin testing, and for other immunohematology tests, and they are available in various capacities, from compact models for a small number of cards to larger units, with features such as precise temperature control, timers, and reliable operation. With their controlled incubation, gel card incubators are essential for immunohematology testing in blood banks and clinical laboratories.
Gel Card Incubator LIGC-T2011
Gel Card Incubator has two independent incubator chambers with a temperature setting range of 26℃ to 38℃. It is compatible with 6-column and 8-column gel cards, totalling a 24-card cap...
Gel Card Incubator LIGC-T2010
Gel Card Incubator is a blood card incubator with a capacity of 24 cards. It features two independent incubation zones each with a capacity of 12 cards. The incubator has a timing range...
Standards
ISO 11133:2014-Microbiology of food, animal feed and water-Preparation, production, storage and performance testing of culture media
Complies with the above standards, but is not limited to them.
Features
1. Gel card incubator for controlled incubation of gel cards in blood banking.
2. Precise temperature control for gel card agglutination reactions in immunohematology.
3. Suitable for blood banks, clinical laboratories, hospitals and transfusion centers.
4. Includes incubator, card slots, temperature control, timer and operation manual.
5. Supports gel card incubation for blood typing, antibody screening and crossmatching.
FAQ
Q1: What testing scenarios is this incubator mainly applied to?
A: The gel card incubator is used in blood banks, clinical laboratories, hospitals, transfusion centers and reference laboratories to provide controlled temperature incubation for gel cards used in immunohematology testing including blood typing, antibody screening, antibody identification and crossmatching. It supports ABO and Rh blood typing using gel card technology, unexpected antibody screening and identification, compatibility testing (crossmatching), direct antiglobulin testing (DAT), and other immunohematology assays. The precise temperature control (typically 37 degrees C) ensures consistent, reproducible agglutination reactions, critical for accurate blood bank testing and patient safety.
Q2: What standards does the incubator comply with?
A: The gel card incubator complies with relevant IEC 61010 laboratory electrical safety standards, IEC 61674 for medical electrical equipment, applicable GB/T standards for laboratory incubators, and relevant medical device regulations (FDA, CE, NMPA). The instrument follows applicable electromagnetic compatibility standards. Temperature accuracy should be verified with a calibrated reference for clinical use. Blood banking follows applicable regulatory requirements (AABB, FDA, national blood transfusion regulations).
Q3: What is the warranty period for the whole machine and key components?
A: The whole gel card incubator is covered by a 12-month warranty. The heating system, temperature control, card slots, timer and housing are covered, while fuses and accessories are consumables. Damage from improper use or unauthorized repair is excluded. Extended service contracts are available for this clinical laboratory equipment.
Q4: Is this device difficult to operate? Is professional training required?
A: Operation requires trained blood bank or clinical laboratory personnel familiar with gel card testing and immunohematology. We provide operation manuals, training and application support. Proper card loading, temperature setting, incubation timing, result interpretation and quality control are critical for accurate blood bank testing and patient safety.
Q5: What is the typical lead-time for order delivery?
A: Standard models require 7-30 working days. In-stock units can ship within 3-7 working days. Custom configurations or large built-to-order systems may require additional time, and we confirm the exact schedule before order confirmation.
Q6: Is regular calibration required? What is the recommended calibration cycle?
A: Temperature calibration against a reference thermometer recommended every 6-12 months for clinical use. Routine temperature verification before each use or daily for blood bank use. Timer accuracy verified periodically. Card slot condition checked. Full system performance verification annually. Routine cleaning recommended.
Q7: Are supporting consumables universal?
A: Gel cards, reagents and fuses are available from blood banking suppliers, though gel card type should match the testing system (e.g., DG Gel, ID-MTS, LISS/Coombs). Long-term consumable cost depends on test volume and reagent choices.
Q8: Can I customize parameters or supporting accessories?
A: Customization includes card capacity, temperature range, timer, card slot configuration, alarm features and accessories. Additional card slots and accessories can be ordered separately. Custom orders extend delivery lead-time.
Q9: Does the purchase include on-site installation and commissioning service?
A: Standard delivery includes the gel card incubator and accessories with an operation manual. On-site installation, calibration and training are not included for standard orders but can be arranged for blood bank setup. Remote guidance is provided.
Q10: What types of gel cards are compatible with this equipment?
A: The gel card incubator incubates standard gel cards (6 or 8 microtubes per card) used in immunohematology testing within the card size, temperature and capacity specification. Different gel card systems (e.g., DG Gel, ID-MTS, Bio-Rad) may have specific dimensions and requirements. Users should verify card compatibility with the incubator slots, follow the gel card manufacturer instructions for incubation temperature and time, include proper controls (positive and negative) with each batch, maintain proper temperature (typically 37 degrees C for IgG reactions, room temperature for IgM), follow proper biosafety procedures for patient blood samples, and document all testing per blood bank regulatory requirements. The incubator should be placed on a stable, level surface. For clinical use, the incubator should be included in the laboratory quality management system with regular temperature monitoring and documentation. The card slots should be cleaned regularly to prevent contamination. The incubator should not be used for purposes other than gel card incubation to avoid cross-contamination. For blood banking, all testing should follow applicable standards (AABB, FDA) and the gel card manufacturer instructions for optimal results.
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