Products - Laboratory Control
pH Meter
The RI pH Meter provides accurate, real-time analysis of media pH within all incubators using its unique custom IVF pH probe. Measuring the pH of culture media accurately is extremely difficult because the pH of media droplets under oil shifts above 7.4 within just 2mins 30 seconds of removal from the incubator.
Key benefits
- All new data logging software with auto-archiving of measurements
- Culture dish probe design
- Excellent calibration response and repeatability
- Robust probe design
- 24 hour drift stability
- Compatible with all common incubators including Minc
Why use the RI pH Meter?
Measuring the pH of culture media accurately is extremely difficult because the pH of media droplets under oil shifts above 7.4 within just 2mins 30 seconds of removal from the incubator. So the likelihood is, if measuring the pH of media outside of the incubator, that you are measuring artefact pH Levels.
The RI pH Meter provides accurate, real-time analysis of media pH within the incubator using its unique custom IVF pH probe. The probe fits into all incubators and allows embryologists to adjust the CO2 concentration to obtain the correct pH in the media. No more guesswork or assumptions when trying to deliver the correct pH for the media being used.
How is it used?
A media droplet is made up in the pH probe well and placed in the incubator. The thin ribbon cable can be passed out through a sample port or through the incubator door. The pH meter will then measure the pH in real-time displaying the value on the digital readout.
How does it work?
The probe has a semiconductor sensor at the tip. The probe is placed in the Petri dish shaped holder. This holder has a well where the media sample is placed. The probe contains a reference electrode that measures the temperature of the sample and compensates the pH reading accordingly.
Software trend analysis
As an optional extra the meter can have on board memory for datalogging. Test results stored by the pH meter may be easily downloaded to a personal computer for analysis and printing. With the new auto archiving feature, the software is very easy to use.
| pH range: | 0.00 to 14.00 |
| Temperature range: | 0°C to 60°C |
| pH resolution: | 0.01pH |
| Temperature resolution: | 0.1°C |
| pH accuracy: | ± 0.05 over 24 hours |
| Temperature accuracy: | ± 0.5°C |
| Display: | Graphics LCD |
| Calibration: | 2-point calibration, 1 point warm up (3 point) |
| Buffer tables: | Research Instruments buffers |
| Power supply: | AC Mains adaptor and internal NiMH rechargeable battery |
| Battery charging time: | 24 hours when empty, with non-operating meter |
| Dimensions(incl. cradle): | Length x Height x Width: 215 x 60 x 95 mm |
| Weight: | 325 g |
pH_Meter_brochure (1,003.7 KiB, 0 hits)
Q: How much media is actually required to be placed in the probe?
A: 0.5 to 1ml of media is required.
Q: Is there any special way of making up the media in the probe?
A: No, make the media drop the same way as your other dishes. You must ensure that the media covers the sensor at the tip of the probe.
Q: When should I place the probe in the incubator?
A: You should place the probe in the incubator at the same time as your dishes.
Q: How long is the warranty period?
A: The pH Meter main unit has 12 months warranty. The probe has 6 months warranty.
Q: How quickly does the probe equilibrate?
A: The probe has a very fast response. Typically less than 2 seconds. It is designed to be placed into the incubator and mimic the gas transfer between the incubator and the media. If it is put into the incubator at the same time as the culture dish it will, in effect, give a live reading of the pH in the culture dish.
Q: Can I use the pH meter to adjust the CO2 on my incubator?
A: No, you should use a CO2 analyser. The pH Meter is designed for measuring the pH changes in your media.
Q: How do I calibrate the unit?
A: Use the calibration buffers provided by RI. The full calibration procedure is described in the user manual.
Q: How often does the probe need calibration?
A: Check with pH7.00 buffer daily. If the reading is incorrect then perform a recalibration. The meter will prompt the user to calibrate every five days.
Q: How long does a probe last?
A: The probe is relatively robust and should last for at least a year with correct maintenance.
Q: How do I clean my probe?
A: Rinse with purified water first to loosen any crystallised media. Use the soft bristled brush supplied to clean the probe and rinse again with purified water. If using an oil overlay then use a lab detergent such as 7X followed by a rinse with purified water. A cleaning kit and instructions are provided.
(See User Manual for full instructions)
Q: How long can you continuously monitor media pH in an incubator with IVF media and protein before you have to clean the probe?
A: We currently recommend a maximum recording length of 24 hours. The probes naturally exhibit a small upwards drift in pH. Within 24 hours this drift should be no more than 0.14pH, and can be corrected for with the built in Time Compensation feature.
Q: Does the concentration of protein affect how often the probe needs to be cleaned and the life of the probe?
A: Proteins tend to adhere to the probe surface, hence higher concentrations will require more regular cleaning.
Q: How can I measure the pH of several incubators in succession?
A: We don’t recommend that you measure in succession because each measurement should take 24 hours and if the measurements were done too quickly the accuracy is compromised. We suggest that upon acquiring the pH Meter you measure, following the instructions in the manual, each incubator in the lab. When you are satisfied that all the incubators are working with sufficient uniformity the pH Meter should only be employed when there is a change to the conditions. This means that when there is a new batch of media or CO2 then a reading can be taken from any of the incubators and that reading should representative of all the other incubators.