Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 CO₂ Incubator
Reliable contamination control is one of the most important considerations when selecting a CO₂ incubator for mammalian cell culture. The Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 CO₂ Incubator was engineered to provide a clean, stable incubation environment through a combination of direct heat, high humidity, continuous HEPA filtration, and an integrated high-temperature decontamination cycle. With a 184-liter (6.5 cubic foot) chamber, microprocessor controls, copper-lined interior, and automated Steri-Cycle sterilization program, the Forma Steri-Cycle 370 remains a dependable choice for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, clinical, and academic laboratories performing routine and long-term cell culture applications.
Designed to minimize contamination while maintaining precise environmental control, the Steri-Cycle 370 combines a direct-heat air-jacket system with continuous HEPA-filtered airflow to maintain Class 100/Class ISO 5 air quality inside the chamber. The copper interior naturally inhibits microbial growth, while the automatic 140°C Steri-Cycle decontamination cycle allows laboratories to periodically sterilize the chamber without disassembly. Purchasing a refurbished Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 CO₂ Incubator from American Instrument Exchange provides laboratories with proven cell culture performance at substantial savings compared to purchasing a new incubator.
Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 CO₂ Incubator Key Features
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184 L (6.5 cu. ft.) chamber capacity
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Temperature range: Ambient +5°C to 50°C
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Direct Heat Air Jacket heating system
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CO₂ control range: 0–20%
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Thermal conductivity CO₂ sensor
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Continuous HEPA filtration
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Automated 140°C Steri-Cycle decontamination cycle
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Copper-lined chamber for passive antimicrobial protection
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High-humidity incubation environment
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Heated inner glass door
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Stainless steel shelving system
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Microprocessor temperature and CO₂ controls
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Access port for probes and monitoring equipment
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120V operation
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90-day warranty from American Instrument Exchange
Designed for Reliable Cell Culture and Contamination Control
The Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 was developed for laboratories where contamination prevention is just as important as precise environmental control. Its direct-heat air-jacket design provides excellent temperature stability while eliminating the complexity associated with water-jacket incubators. Continuous HEPA filtration constantly recirculates chamber air through a high-efficiency filter, helping maintain exceptionally clean incubation conditions throughout routine operation.
To further reduce contamination risks, the Steri-Cycle 370 incorporates a copper-lined chamber that naturally suppresses microbial growth while the automated 140°C Steri-Cycle decontamination program periodically sterilizes the chamber interior. Together, these features reduce the likelihood of contamination events while minimizing incubator downtime, making the Steri-Cycle 370 an excellent choice for laboratories maintaining valuable cell cultures over extended periods.
Common Applications
The Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 CO₂ Incubator is commonly used for:
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Mammalian cell culture
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Stem cell research
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Primary cell culture
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Hybridoma production
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CHO and HEK293 cell cultivation
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Monoclonal antibody development
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Cancer research
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Regenerative medicine
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Pharmaceutical research
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Clinical laboratory cell culture
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Tissue engineering
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Vaccine research
CO₂ incubators are commonly paired with biosafety cabinets for sterile culture preparation, centrifuges for harvesting cells, ultralow temperature freezers for long-term cell banking, and laboratory refrigerators and freezers for storing media, sera, and other temperature-sensitive reagents.
Ideal Laboratory Environments
The Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 is an excellent choice for biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, university research laboratories, hospital research facilities, clinical laboratories, contract research organizations, and regenerative medicine programs. Its combination of contamination-control technologies, dependable environmental stability, and straightforward operation makes it particularly valuable for laboratories maintaining multiple cell lines where protecting cultures from contamination is essential.
Why Choose the Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370?
The Forma Steri-Cycle 370 established many of the contamination-control technologies that made Thermo Scientific CO₂ incubators a trusted choice for cell culture laboratories. Its direct-heat air-jacketed design, continuous HEPA filtration, automated 140°C Steri-Cycle decontamination cycle, and copper-lined chamber continue to provide reliable performance for mammalian cell culture, stem cell research, pharmaceutical development, and other demanding biological applications.
Laboratories seeking similar contamination-control performance with newer electronics, enhanced environmental monitoring, and updated user controls should also consider the Thermo Scientific HeraCell VIOS 160i CO₂ Incubator, which represents the next generation of Thermo Scientific CO₂ incubator technology. While the VIOS 160i incorporates newer sensing technologies and additional contamination-control features, the Steri-Cycle 370 remains an outstanding value for laboratories seeking proven performance at a significantly lower acquisition cost.
Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 CO₂ Incubator Performance and Environmental Stability
The Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 is engineered to provide the stable environmental conditions required for reliable mammalian cell culture while minimizing the risk of contamination. Its direct-heat air-jacket design delivers excellent temperature uniformity and rapid recovery following routine door openings, helping maintain consistent incubation conditions throughout long-term experiments. The thermal conductivity CO₂ sensor continuously regulates carbon dioxide concentrations, while the heated inner glass door helps reduce condensation and maintains chamber stability.
A defining feature of the Steri-Cycle 370 is its comprehensive contamination-control system. Chamber air is continuously recirculated through a high-efficiency HEPA filter to maintain clean incubation conditions, while the copper-lined interior provides passive antimicrobial protection between decontamination cycles. When periodic sterilization is required, the integrated 140°C Steri-Cycle decontamination program heats the chamber to a temperature sufficient to eliminate microorganisms without requiring users to dismantle or manually disinfect interior components. Together, these features help laboratories reduce contamination events while maximizing incubator uptime.
Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 Typical Cell Types and Laboratory Applications
The Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 supports a broad range of mammalian cell culture applications performed in research, clinical, and pharmaceutical laboratories. Typical cell types include CHO cells, HEK293 cells, hybridomas, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), primary mammalian cells, lymphocytes, insect cells requiring CO₂ incubation, and numerous immortalized research cell lines.
Researchers commonly use the Steri-Cycle 370 for monoclonal antibody production, recombinant protein expression, regenerative medicine, cancer biology, tissue engineering, vaccine development, cell therapy research, drug discovery, toxicology studies, microbiology, and long-term maintenance of valuable cell cultures requiring dependable environmental control and effective contamination prevention.
Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 CO₂ Incubator Specifications
| Specification |
Details |
| Manufacturer |
Thermo Scientific |
| Model |
Forma Steri-Cycle 370 |
| Equipment Type |
CO₂ Incubator |
| Chamber Capacity |
184 L (6.5 cu. ft.) |
| Temperature Range |
Ambient +5°C to 50°C |
| CO₂ Control Range |
0–20% |
| CO₂ Sensor |
Thermal Conductivity |
| Heating System |
Direct Heat Air Jacket |
| Decontamination System |
140°C Steri-Cycle Cycle |
| Air Quality |
Continuous HEPA Filtration |
| Chamber Interior |
Copper-Lined |
| Relative Humidity |
High-Humidity Water Pan |
| Interior Door |
Heated Glass |
| Shelving |
Adjustable Stainless Steel Shelves |
| Access Port |
Yes |
| Electrical Requirements |
120V |
Specifications are compiled from manufacturer literature and American Instrument Exchange product information. Specifications may vary depending on production year and factory-installed options. Please verify electrical requirements and included accessories prior to purchase.
Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 CO₂ Incubator Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Steri-Cycle 370 different from a standard CO₂ incubator?
The Steri-Cycle 370 combines several contamination-control technologies into a single system, including continuous HEPA filtration, a copper-lined chamber, direct-heat temperature control, and an automated 140°C decontamination cycle. These features help reduce contamination risks while maintaining stable incubation conditions.
What types of cell cultures is the Steri-Cycle 370 designed to support?
The incubator is suitable for CHO cells, HEK293 cells, hybridomas, stem cells, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, primary mammalian cells, tissue engineering cultures, regenerative medicine applications, and many other routine cell culture workflows.
Why is a copper-lined chamber beneficial?
Copper possesses natural antimicrobial properties that help inhibit microbial growth on interior surfaces between cleaning and sterilization cycles. Combined with HEPA filtration and high-temperature decontamination, it contributes to a cleaner incubation environment.
How does the Steri-Cycle decontamination cycle work?
The integrated Steri-Cycle program automatically heats the chamber to approximately 140°C, allowing laboratories to perform a complete high-temperature decontamination cycle without removing major chamber components or performing extensive manual cleaning.
Is the thermal conductivity CO₂ sensor appropriate for routine laboratory use?
Yes. Thermal conductivity sensors have long been used in CO₂ incubators because they provide dependable carbon dioxide measurement for a wide variety of routine mammalian cell culture applications.
How does the Steri-Cycle 370 compare to the HeraCell VIOS 160i?
The Steri-Cycle 370 offers many of the contamination-control technologies that established Thermo Scientific as a leader in CO₂ incubators, including HEPA filtration and high-temperature decontamination. The HeraCell VIOS 160i builds upon this foundation with updated electronics, improved environmental monitoring, enhanced user controls, and newer contamination-control technologies, making it the logical next-generation successor while preserving the same focus on protecting valuable cell cultures.
Why purchase a refurbished Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 CO₂ Incubator from American Instrument Exchange?
A refurbished Thermo Scientific Forma Steri-Cycle 370 CO₂ Incubator from American Instrument Exchange provides laboratories with a proven contamination-control platform at a substantial savings compared to purchasing new equipment. Featuring a 184-liter chamber, continuous HEPA filtration, 140°C Steri-Cycle decontamination, direct-heat air-jacket technology, thermal conductivity CO₂ sensing, and a copper-lined interior, the Steri-Cycle 370 remains an excellent choice for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, clinical, and academic laboratories. Every unit is thoroughly inspected and tested prior to shipment and includes a 90-day warranty for added confidence.
