Cardboard Slide Trays

Quick Answer: Cardboard slide trays are flat card trays that hold microscope slides side by side in marked positions, each lying flat with its label visible. The listing photograph shows a white card tray with two columns of slide positions and write-on header panels.

Flat, Labelled and Stackable

A card tray solves several everyday slide problems at low cost. Slides lie flat, so fresh mounts can harden without the cover glass creeping. Each position is marked, so a set can be laid out in order and checked for gaps at a glance. The printed panels at the top of each column give space to write a course name, a batch number or a date, which turns the tray itself into the index.

Because card trays are light and thin, full trays can be stacked in a drawer or box, which makes them practical for archiving a year’s student slides or keeping a batch of examination slides together. They cost little enough to hand one to each student or group for a practical session, collecting the finished slides tray by tray.

Card is less durable than plastic: it absorbs spills, cannot be disinfected and can stick to excess mountant, so wipe any mountant from slide edges before laying them in. The number of slide positions and whether the tray has a folding cover are not stated in the title. For a rigid, washable version, LabEquip lists a slide tray in its microscope range.

Specifications

Applications

• Letting newly mounted slides dry flat after coverslipping
• Collecting each student’s slides at the end of a histology or botany practical
• Archiving examination or project slides by batch and date
• Laying out slides in order for a practical identification test

Care & Handling

• Store trays flat in a dry drawer or box; damp card warps and loosens slides.
• Wipe excess mountant from slide edges before laying slides in, so they do not glue to the card.
• Write labels in pencil or permanent ink on the header panels, not on stickers that can peel.

Why Choose LabEquip

Histology, pathology and botany teaching labs buy card trays in quantity for student slide collections and archives. LabEquip lists them in Biology Lab Products with Cardboard Slide Mailers for sending slides elsewhere. Confirm tray layout and quantities through the LabEquip contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are cardboard slide trays different from plastic slide trays?

Card trays are lighter, cheaper and easy to write on, and suit single courses or archives. Plastic trays are rigid and washable and last longer in daily use but take more space when stacked.

Can freshly mounted slides be placed in a card tray?

Yes, that is one of their main uses, because the slides lie flat while the mountant hardens. Wipe any excess mountant from the edges first so the slide does not stick to the card.

How should the trays be labelled?

Use the header panels to write the course, batch or date, and number the slides to match their positions. That lets anyone check a tray for missing slides quickly.

Can full trays be stacked?

Yes, full trays can be stacked in a drawer or box once mounts are dry. Keep stacks moderate in height so the lowest trays are not crushed.

Are cardboard trays suitable for long-term storage?

They work well for dry, indoor storage. Keep them away from damp, direct sunlight and insects, and move valuable reference slides to rigid boxes if the card starts to deteriorate.

How many slides does each tray hold?

The number of positions is not stated in the title; the listing photograph shows two columns of slots. Confirm the capacity at enquiry to match your class sizes.

Last Updated: September 2026