Tubes, Culture (Disposable) Screw Thread

Quick Answer: The Tubes, Culture (Disposable) Screw Thread are single-use culture tubes with a threaded neck that takes a screw cap. Disposable screw thread culture tubes give a secure closure for cultures, specimens and prepared media, and are discarded after use instead of being washed.

Why Single-Use, Why a Screw Thread

Washing reusable culture tubes takes time, water and detergent, and any residue or surviving organism can carry over into the next culture. Disposable tubes remove that risk: each tube is used once, decontaminated and discarded. They are useful where many tubes are needed at once, where samples are infectious or where results could be affected by traces of previous contents, such as in diagnostic and food testing work.

The screw thread lets the tube be closed with a screw cap, usually plastic with a liner, which seals far better than a cotton plug or push-on cap. That makes the tube suitable for long-term storage of stock cultures on slants, for transporting specimens between labs and for media that must not dry out. Caps should be loosened before autoclaving and during aerobic incubation, then tightened for storage.

Disposable culture tubes are made of glass or plastic, and caps may be sold with the tubes or separately; the listing states neither, nor the size. Tubes for general media preparation are listed as culture media tubes, and plastic screw cap test tubes are another sealed option.

Applications

• Storing slant cultures for weeks with minimal drying
• Sending specimens and isolates between laboratories in sealed tubes
• Diagnostic and food microbiology work where carry-over must be avoided
• Large practical classes where washing hundreds of tubes is impractical

Specifications

Use and Disposal

• Loosen screw caps half a turn before autoclaving so steam can enter and pressure can equalise.
• Keep caps loose during incubation of aerobic organisms, then tighten them for storage.
• Autoclave used tubes with their contents before disposal as biomedical or laboratory waste.
• Find out whether the tubes are glass or plastic before heating or autoclaving empty tubes.

Why Choose LabEquip

Diagnostic labs, food testing units and large teaching labs choose disposable tubes to save washing time and avoid cross-contamination between cultures. LabEquip lists them in Biology Lab Products; ask about sizes and caps through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ‘disposable’ mean for these culture tubes?

They are intended for a single use. After use they are decontaminated, usually by autoclaving, and discarded instead of being washed and reused.

Why use a screw thread tube instead of a plugged tube?

A screw cap seals more tightly than a cotton plug or slip-on cap, so media dry out more slowly, spills are less likely and tubes can be transported safely.

Should the cap be tight during incubation?

For aerobic organisms keep the cap slightly loose so air can enter. Tighten it once growth is complete and the tube is going into storage.

Can disposable tubes be autoclaved?

Glass disposable tubes and many polypropylene tubes can be autoclaved, but polystyrene tubes cannot. Know the tube material before autoclaving and always loosen caps first.

Are caps included with the tubes?

Screw thread tubes are sold both with caps and without, and the listing does not state which applies here, so confirm this when you enquire.

Is it acceptable to wash and reuse disposable tubes?

It is possible with glass tubes, but it defeats their purpose. Reuse brings back the risk of residue and carry-over, and plastic ones may not tolerate washing and sterilising again.

Last Updated: September 2026