MCT Rack

Quick Answer: The MCT Rack is a bench rack that holds microcentrifuge tubes (MCTs) upright in rows, so they can be opened, filled, labelled and closed with both hands free. MCT racks for 1.5 ml and 2.0 ml tubes are among the most-used items in molecular biology, biochemistry and biotechnology labs.

A Working Rack for Microtubes

Microcentrifuge tubes have pointed bottoms and cannot stand alone, and a tube knocked over can mean a lost sample. An MCT rack holds each tube in its own hole at a comfortable height for pipetting, with rows and columns often marked so that tube order follows a protocol sheet: sample 1 in A1, sample 2 in A2, and so on. Setting up reactions in rack order is one of the simplest ways to avoid pipetting into the wrong tube.

Plastic tube racks are commonly polypropylene, which tolerates disinfectants and can generally be autoclaved. Many are open-framed so they can stand in crushed ice or a water bath, and some come in several colours so that different experiments or users are kept apart. The number of positions, the colours offered and whether this rack has a lid or open frame are not given in the title.

This rack takes one tube size on one working face. Two-faced designs such as the Reversible Rack and the MCT Twin Rack offer a different size on each side, and for keeping closed tubes in the freezer a lidded MCT box is used.

Specifications

Applications

• Setting up PCR, digestion and ligation reactions in a fixed sample order
• Holding tubes between centrifuge spins during DNA extraction
• Organising student samples in teaching practicals, one row per group
• Standing tubes in ice or a water bath when the rack design allows

Care & Handling

• Wipe with 70% ethanol before and after use, and wash in mild detergent each week
• If it is polypropylene, autoclave the rack on its side to limit warping, after checking its rating
• Use separate racks for pre-PCR and post-PCR work to reduce carry-over contamination
• Keep racks out of hot drying ovens unless they are rated for the temperature

Why Choose LabEquip

Microtube racks are ordered in numbers by molecular biology and biotechnology teaching labs, diagnostic training centres and research groups, often one per student or bench. LabEquip supplies them in Biology Lab Products; send the number of racks and positions you need through our contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tubes fit this rack?

Racks of this type are sized for 1.5 ml and 2.0 ml microcentrifuge tubes. Smaller 0.5 ml and 0.2 ml PCR tubes sit too low or fall through, so they need their own racks.

Can the rack be placed in ice?

Open-framed racks can stand in crushed ice or a water bath so that tubes are chilled or warmed while staying upright. Check that the rack is stable when wet and does not float when the bath is full.

How does the rack help avoid pipetting mistakes?

Marked rows and columns let each tube be matched to a position on the protocol sheet. Working across the rack in order, and moving each tube to a new row once it has received a reagent, keeps track of which tubes are done.

Can the rack be autoclaved?

Polypropylene racks are generally autoclavable at 121 °C. Lay them flat or on their side, and let them cool completely before use, as warm plastic can bend.

Why keep separate racks for PCR set-up?

Racks used after PCR can carry amplified DNA, which contaminates new reactions if the same rack is used for set-up. Keeping marked racks for each area is a simple control.

How does this rack differ from the Reversible Rack?

This rack has one working face for one tube size. A reversible rack has a different tube size on each face, so it is turned over to change size.

Last Updated: September 2026