Test Tube Basket, Aluminium/Stainless Steel

Quick Answer: The Test Tube Basket, Aluminium/Stainless Steel is a metal test tube basket: an open-topped container with perforated walls and base, offered in aluminium or stainless steel. The listing photograph shows square perforated baskets; they hold tubes upright for washing, draining, sterilising and storage.

Choosing Aluminium or Stainless Steel

The perforations are the point of the basket. Water drains out when a batch of tubes is lifted from a wash sink, steam circulates freely in an autoclave, and hot air moves through in a drying or sterilising oven, reaching every tube instead of only those on the outside. Tubes can go from washing to drying to sterilisation to storage without being handled one by one.

The two metals in the title behave differently. Aluminium is light, so a full basket is easy to lift, and it conducts heat well, so the load warms and cools quickly. It is, however, attacked by alkaline detergents and can darken in the autoclave with some water supplies. Stainless steel is heavier but tolerates alkaline cleaners and disinfectants, and keeps its surface after repeated cycles. Say which you want when ordering, since the title covers both.

Where the metal matters, this listing states it, unlike the general test tube baskets in the glassware range. Bare metal takes dry-heat oven temperatures that would soften a plastic basket or coating. For holding tubes upright at the bench rather than in bulk, a rack such as the 3 tier test tube stand is more convenient.

Specifications

Applications

• Autoclaving tubes of culture medium upright before they are slanted or stored
• Dry-heat sterilising clean, empty test tubes in a hot air oven
• Washing and draining used tubes in batches
• Carrying tubes to and from a water bath during incubation

Care & Handling

• Do not overfill the metal test tube basket; tubes packed too tightly can crack as they expand in the oven.
• Use neutral or mildly alkaline detergents on aluminium baskets and rinse well.
• Let a basket cool before lifting it out of an autoclave or oven, and wear heat-resistant gloves.
• Check the base for dents or sharp edges that could chip tubes.

Why Choose LabEquip

Microbiology and pathology labs sterilise tubes by the hundred, and school prep rooms wash them just as often. LabEquip lists this basket in both metals in General Lab Products; state the metal and the tube size you use on the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I choose aluminium or stainless steel?

Aluminium is lighter and heats and cools quickly, but alkaline detergents attack it. Stainless steel is heavier and more tolerant of cleaners and disinfectants, so it usually lasts longer where strong detergents and frequent autoclaving are routine.

Can the basket go in an autoclave?

Both metals tolerate normal autoclave temperatures. Load tubes loosely, with caps or plugs loosened as the method requires, so steam can circulate.

Can it be used in a hot air oven?

Yes, bare metal baskets suit dry-heat sterilisation, which uses higher temperatures than an autoclave. Plastic or plastic-coated baskets should not be used this way.

Why is my aluminium basket turning dark?

Aluminium can discolour in autoclaves and with alkaline washing, depending on water quality. The darkening is a surface effect; rinsing in clean water after washing and using neutral detergents reduces it.

Will the tubes stand upright?

They stand upright when the basket is filled closely enough to support them. A partly filled basket lets them lean, so fill it or use a rack for small numbers.

Can I stack baskets?

Only if the tubes inside are shorter than the basket walls, so the upper basket rests on the rim rather than on the tubes. Avoid stacking during autoclaving, which restricts steam flow.

Last Updated: September 2026