A B.O.D. Incubator (Biochemical Oxygen Demand Incubator) is a precision-controlled low-temperature incubator widely used in biological, environmental, pharmaceutical, and research laboratories. Its primary function is to provide a stable, cooled environment to incubate samples at controlled temperatures over extended periods, especially for BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) testing, which measures the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms during the decomposition of organic matter in water.

Unlike standard incubators that typically operate above ambient temperature, B.O.D. incubators can maintain temperatures as low as 5°C, making them suitable for microbial incubation, tissue culture growth, fermentation studies, and environmental testing. They are equipped with refrigeration systems, heaters, and digital controllers, allowing accurate and stable temperature control across a range of approximately 5°C to 60°C.

The instrument ensures consistent environmental conditions essential for long-term incubation, often required for experiments that last several days or weeks. The term “B.O.D.” originates from the environmental test for water pollution, but these incubators have much broader use in scientific laboratories today.

The B.O.D. Incubator is an essential device in scientific laboratories, particularly for long-duration, low-temperature incubations. Originally designed for environmental testing like Biochemical Oxygen Demand analysis, its use has expanded across multiple disciplines including microbiology, botany, pharmaceuticals, and food safety. With precise digital control, uniform temperature distribution, and rugged design, the B.O.D. incubator remains a reliable, versatile, and indispensable tool for any modern laboratory requiring stable low-temperature conditions.