PHC Launches Cell-IQ® CO₂ Incubators with Active Humidity Control, Creating Critical Stability for Research Samples

WOOD DALE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PHC Corporation of North America (PHCNA), provider of PHCbi cell culture and sample preservation solutions across North America and Latin America, has introduced a new series of laboratory incubators featuring active hybrid humidification technology and enhanced contamination control. The new Cell-IQ® CO₂ incubator line is designed to deliver improved environmental stability for a wide range of cell culture applications.

Maintaining precise and stable incubation conditions is essential in life science research and drug development to ensure reliable results. Humidity plays a critical role in both cell culture quality and aligning with regulatory guidance. Sensitive and long-term culture samples are particularly vulnerable to media evaporation—commonly known as the “edge effect”—which can result in sample loss and compromise experiment outcomes. Additionally, other incubators with conventional humidity systems are prone to contamination caused by condensation and require lengthy sterilization procedures, leading to operational downtime.

The new Cell-IQ® CO₂ Incubator Series (model numbers: MCO-233AICUVX-PA, MCO-233AICUVHX-PA, MCO-173AICUVX-PA, and MCO-173AICUVHX-PA) is designed to address these challenges with PHCbi’s active hybrid humidification function. This technology combines active steam generation with an internal humidity sensor to provide precise humidity control at 80–90%, together with a passive water pan system. By rapidly detecting humidity drops caused by chamber door openings and immediately initiating humidification, this system achieves a humidity recovery speed approximately twice as fast as previous models. This helps maintain stable culture environments, reduces evaporation across multi-well plates, and minimizes edge effect. It also reduces condensation when heat-generating analytical instruments are placed inside the chamber.

To further support contamination control, the incubators feature an interior made of antimicrobial copper-alloy stainless steel, integrated UV-LED sterilization, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) decontamination technology that enables rapid decontamination cycles in around three hours, allowing labs to maintain sterile conditions while minimizing downtime.

Additional enhancements include an intuitive graphical user interface, LabSVIFT® Gen 3 connectivity with expanded remote monitoring and system diagnostics, and smart design elements such as an integrated humidity sensor and a field reversible, ergonomic door handle. Together, these features simplify operation, enhance performance visibility, and reduce maintenance demands.

“This new generation of PHCbi incubators represents a significant step forward in active humidity control, helping deliver the stability and precision that researchers need to generate consistent, high-quality data,” said Joe LaPorte, Chief Innovation Officer at PHCNA. “By addressing long-standing challenges with humidity management and contamination prevention, we’re helping laboratories improve confidence in their results while supporting the future of cell-based research.”

The Cell-IQ® CO₂ Incubator Series is engineered for diverse applications, including organoid and cell line development, high-throughput screening, and integration with live-cell imaging systems. Its ability to maintain stable conditions across frequent door openings and extended culture periods makes it well-suited for advanced and long-term workflows.

With this launch, PHCNA continues its commitment to providing innovative, reliable, and user-focused solutions that advance scientific discovery in research and clinical laboratories. PHCNA is a subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (TOKYO: 6523).

About PHC Corporation of North America

PHC Corporation of North America (PHCNA), headquartered in Wood Dale, IL, is a supplier of PHCbi life sciences laboratory solutions. PHCNA empowers scientific advancement by providing technologies that protect and support critical research. PHCbi solutions provided by PHCNA are trusted by researchers across the United States, Canada, and select countries in Latin America for their reliability and innovation.

PHCNA is part of the Life Sciences Business Unit of PHC Corporation, a global leader in life science laboratory equipment, which offers solutions that enhance every stage of the research workflow—from sample preservation to cell culture to regenerative medicine. PHC Corporation is a proud subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (TOKYO: 6523), based in Tokyo, Japan. www.phchd.com/us/biomedical

About PHC Holdings Corporation (PHC Group)

PHC Holdings Corporation (TOKYO: 6523) is a global collection of healthcare companies with a mission of contributing to the health of society through healthcare solutions that have a positive impact and improve the lives of people. Its subsidiaries (referred to collectively as PHC Group) include PHC Corporation, Ascensia Diabetes Care, Epredia Holdings Ltd., LSI Medience Corporation, Wemex Corporation and Mediford Corporation. Together, these companies develop, manufacture, sell and service solutions across diabetes management, healthcare solutions, life sciences and diagnostics. PHC Group’s consolidated net sales in FY2025 were JPY 364 billion with global distribution of products and services in more than 125 countries and regions. www.phchd.com