Test Tube Screw Cap, Plastic

Quick answer: This is a plastic test tube fitted with a screw cap, used for secure sample storage, specimen transport and general dispensing in school, college and small laboratory settings.

Plastic screw-cap test tubes are a practical alternative to open-top glass tubes wherever a sealed, spill-resistant container is needed. The screw-thread closure holds the cap firmly in place during handling, shaking and transport, which makes these tubes useful for field sample collection (water, soil, biological specimens), short-term reagent storage and teaching demonstrations where breakage risk needs to be kept low.

Being moulded in plastic rather than glass, these tubes are naturally more impact-resistant, which suits busy student laboratories and outdoor fieldwork. They are designed to sit in standard laboratory test tube racks and stands alongside glass tubes of comparable dimensions.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Detail
Body material	Plastic
Closure	Screw cap
Typical use	Sample storage, specimen transport, teaching laboratories
Rack compatibility	Standard laboratory test tube racks and stands
Capacity	Supplied in a range of standard laboratory sizes — confirm the exact volume required at enquiry

Applications

School and college biology and chemistry practicals
Field collection of water and soil samples
Short-term specimen and reagent storage
Spill-resistant transport of liquid samples between work areas

Care & Handling

Hand-wash with a mild laboratory detergent and rinse thoroughly before reuse
Avoid strong solvents that can craze or weaken plastic over time
Keep away from open flame and direct high heat
Check compatibility before autoclaving, as heat tolerance varies by plastic type
Store upright in a test tube rack to keep the screw cap seated correctly

Why Choose LabEquip

LabEquip supplies laboratory glassware and plasticware to schools, colleges and research laboratories across India. Explore our wider lab glassware range or browse related chemistry lab equipment to complete your laboratory setup. For bulk or institutional requirements, contact us and our team will help you specify the right quantity and size.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a plastic screw cap test tube used for?

It is used for secure storage and transport of liquid or solid laboratory samples, as well as general dispensing in teaching and research settings.

Is the screw cap leakproof?

The screw-thread closure is designed to create a secure seal that resists spillage during normal handling, shaking and transport between work areas.

Can these test tubes be reused?

Yes. They can be reused after being cleaned with a mild detergent and thoroughly rinsed, provided they show no cracking or damage to the cap thread.

What sizes are available?

These tubes are supplied in a range of standard laboratory sizes. Confirm the exact volume and dimensions you need when placing your enquiry.

Are these tubes suitable for use in a centrifuge?

For centrifuge use, check that the tube’s rated speed and material are matched to your specific centrifuge model before use.

Does LabEquip supply these for bulk or institutional orders?

Yes. LabEquip supplies plastic screw-cap test tubes to schools, colleges and laboratories across India, including bulk and institutional orders. Contact us for a quotation.

Last Updated: September 2026

Storage Vial With O-Ring

Quick Answer: The Storage Vial With O-Ring is a small plastic screw-cap vial whose cap carries a flexible O-ring, giving a tighter, more leak-resistant seal than a plain cap; it is used to store, freeze and transport small-volume samples.

What the O-Ring Changes

In an ordinary screw-cap vial the seal depends on plastic pressing against plastic. Tiny irregularities in the rim, temperature changes and repeated opening can leave paths for leakage and evaporation. An O-ring, a flexible ring commonly made of silicone and seated in the cap, is squeezed as the cap is tightened and fills those irregularities, so the seal holds better when the vial is frozen and thawed, laid on its side or shaken in transit.

That is the reason to pick this vial over the plain Storage Vial: aliquots that will spend months in a freezer, samples shipped between sites or sent from the field, and volatile liquids such as alcohol-preserved specimens that would otherwise slowly dry out. For short-term use in an upright rack, the plain vial is simpler.

Vials of this type are generally polypropylene. Silicone stays flexible over a wide temperature range, which is why it is used for seals that go into freezers, but it can swell in non-polar organic solvents, so the O-ring rather than the vial body is often the limiting part for chemical compatibility.

Specifications

Type	Screw-cap storage vial with O-ring seal
Vial material	Plastic; vials of this type are commonly polypropylene
Seal	O-ring in the cap, commonly silicone, compressed against the vial
Suited to	Frozen aliquots, samples in transit, volatile or long-term samples
Volume	To be confirmed at enquiry

Care & Handling

Before closing, check that the O-ring is seated evenly and is not nicked, flattened or missing.
Wash the cap with the O-ring removed, if it is removable, so residue does not collect beneath it.
Let frozen vials reach room temperature before opening, so condensation does not enter the sample.
Keep a few spare O-rings on hand if your vials use replaceable rings.

Applications

Long-term freezer storage of aliquots of reagents or biological samples.
Shipping samples between laboratories or bringing them back from field sites.
Keeping specimens in ethanol for reference collections without the level dropping.
Holding retained samples that must not lose water by evaporation before re-testing.

Why Choose LabEquip

Research labs, field ecologists and anyone sending samples by courier choose O-ring vials because a leaking vial can ruin a sample and contaminate the rest of the box. For routine storage in a rack, the plain Storage Vial is quicker to wash; both sit in the Lab Glassware category. Tell LabEquip your sample type and storage temperature when you enquire.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the O-ring do on a storage vial?

The O-ring is a flexible ring in the cap that is compressed when the cap is tightened. It fills small gaps between cap and vial, so the seal resists leaks and evaporation better than a plastic-to-plastic seal, especially after freezing, in transit or when the vial lies on its side.

When is a plain storage vial enough?

For short-term storage upright in a rack, at room temperature or in a refrigerator, a plain screw-cap vial usually suffices. Choose the O-ring version for months of frozen storage, for samples that will be shipped, and for volatile liquids.

Can O-ring vials go into liquid nitrogen?

Only if the vial is rated for it, and preferably in the vapour phase above the liquid. Even with an O-ring, a vial immersed in liquid nitrogen can take in liquid that expands rapidly on warming, so wear a face shield when removing vials from liquid-phase storage.

Which solvents can damage the O-ring?

Silicone O-rings generally tolerate water, aqueous buffers and alcohols but can swell in non-polar solvents such as hexane, toluene and chlorinated solvents. A swollen ring no longer seals properly, so use a different closure for those liquids.

How tight should the cap be?

Firm hand-tight is enough. The O-ring seals by compression, so once the cap meets resistance a little more turn completes the seal; forcing it further distorts the ring and can crack the cap or strip the thread.

Can the vial and cap be autoclaved together?

Polypropylene vials and silicone O-rings are generally autoclavable, but check this item’s rating first. Autoclave with the cap loose so steam can reach inside and pressure can equalise, and tighten it only after cooling.

Last Updated: September 2026

Storage Vial

Quick Answer: The Storage Vial is a small screw-capped plastic storage vial, typically polypropylene, used to hold small volumes of samples, aliquots, stock solutions and reagents in racks, refrigerators and freezers.

Where a Plain Screw-Cap Vial Fits

Storage vials sit between microcentrifuge tubes and bottles. They are sturdier than a snap-cap microtube and their screw cap reseals cleanly many times, yet they are small enough to rack in dozens. That makes them a practical home for aliquots of buffers and stains, retained reference samples, small solid samples such as seeds or soil sub-samples, and specimens kept in alcohol in biology teaching collections.

The difference from the Storage Vial With O-Ring is the seal. In this plain vial, the cap seals plastic against plastic at the rim and thread. The O-ring version adds an elastomer ring in the cap that fills small gaps, giving better resistance to leakage and evaporation during freezing, transport and long storage. For samples used within days or weeks, kept upright in a rack or a refrigerator, the plain vial does the job and has one less part to clean.

Polypropylene, the usual material for vials of this type, generally resists aqueous solutions, alcohols and dilute acids and alkalis. When aqueous samples are frozen, leave headspace in the vial, as water expands on freezing and can push the cap or split the wall.

Applications

Splitting a stock solution into aliquots so the main stock is not opened repeatedly.
Keeping retained samples of liquids in a refrigerator for later re-testing.
Holding seeds, soil sub-samples or small insects in alcohol for teaching collections.
Moving small samples between labs inside a closed rack or box.

Care & Handling

Fill aqueous samples no more than about three-quarters full before freezing.
Tighten the cap firmly by hand only; overtightening can strip the thread or crack the cap.
Keep vials upright in a rack or box so liquid does not sit against the plastic-to-plastic seal for long periods.

Specifications

Type	Screw-cap storage vial
Material	Plastic; storage vials are commonly polypropylene
Seal	Screw cap sealing plastic to plastic (no O-ring)
Suited to	Short- to medium-term storage of small liquid or solid samples
Volume	To be confirmed at enquiry

Why Choose LabEquip

Biology teaching labs, research groups and quality-control labs keeping retained samples are the usual buyers of plain storage vials, often by the hundred. Where samples will be frozen for months or shipped, the Storage Vial With O-Ring is the safer seal, and glass screw cap vials suit solvent-based samples. Browse the Lab Glassware category or request a quote from LabEquip.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a storage vial and a storage vial with O-ring?

Both are screw-capped plastic vials. The O-ring version has an elastomer ring in the cap that gives a tighter seal against leaks and evaporation, which matters for frozen storage and shipping. The plain vial seals plastic against plastic and suits routine storage in racks and refrigerators.

Can the storage vial be used in a freezer?

Polypropylene vials are commonly kept in −20 °C freezers, but check this vial’s temperature rating before storing it at −80 °C or colder. Leave headspace for expansion, and let frozen vials thaw before unscrewing the caps.

Can samples be stored in liquid nitrogen in this vial?

Not by immersion. Liquid nitrogen can seep past a screw cap into a vial held in the liquid phase and then expand violently as the vial warms, which can make it burst. Use vials rated for liquid nitrogen, stored in the vapour phase or in protective sleeves.

Is the vial suitable for alcohol-preserved specimens?

Polypropylene generally resists ethanol and isopropanol, so it is a common choice for small specimens kept in alcohol. Close the cap firmly and check the level from time to time, as alcohol can slowly evaporate through a plastic-to-plastic seal over long periods.

Can the vials be autoclaved?

Polypropylene vials are generally autoclavable at 121 °C, but check the rating of this vial first. Autoclave with the caps loosened or off, and tighten them only after the vials have cooled.

How should the vials be labelled?

Label the vial body rather than only the cap, because caps can be swapped when several vials are open. Use a marker or label that tolerates the storage conditions, such as cold, condensation or alcohol, and include the sample name, date and your initials.

Last Updated: September 2026

Stool Container, New Design

Quick Answer: The Stool Container, New Design is a revised version of the standard plastic stool sample container; the product image shows it with a spoon-type scoop for taking the sample. It is used to collect a small faecal sample hygienically and carry it to the laboratory for microscopy, occult blood or culture.

What to Check in a Revised Design

Design changes in stool pots usually concern the parts patients and lab staff handle: the shape and length of the scoop, whether the scoop is fixed inside the cap, the thread and seal of the lid, the size of the label panel and whether a fill line is marked. The title does not say which of these differ from the standard stool container, so ask for a sample or a photograph of both if the difference matters for your protocol.

Whatever the details, a good design lets the patient take a portion without touching the stool, closes with a seal that survives a bumpy journey in a bag, and carries a label that stays readable after refrigeration. A scoop fixed to the cap keeps the sampling tool with the sample and off other surfaces, which is why cap-mounted spoons have become common.

For collection drives such as parasite surveys in schools or community screening, where hundreds of pots are handed out, clear written or picture instructions for patients matter as much as the pot itself. A pot with a spoon is not a substitute for a preservative container when the lab asks for fixed samples.

Handing Out and Receiving Containers

Hand the pot over with the lid closed and explain that the inside of the lid and scoop must not be touched.
Stick the label on the pot body before giving it to the patient.
Check that the lid is fully shut before the sample leaves the clinic.
Keep filled pots upright in a closed box or bag while they travel.

Specifications

Use	Faecal sample collection and transport
Design	Revised version of the standard stool container
Scoop	Spoon-type scoop shown in the product image
Material	Plastic
Changes from the standard pot, capacity	Confirm at enquiry

Applications

Outpatient collection for routine and microscopic stool examination
Community and school surveys of intestinal parasites
Occult blood and stool culture requests
Teaching specimen collection and labelling to allied health students

Why Choose LabEquip

Clinics, public health teams running screening programmes and diagnostic labs that distribute pots in bulk choose designs patients find easy to use. LabEquip lists this revised version in the Biology Lab Products range; send comparisons or sample requests through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the New Design different from the standard stool container?

The listing does not specify the change. Revisions to these pots usually affect the scoop, the lid seal, the label area or a fill mark, so compare the two versions side by side before switching a set protocol.

Why does the container have a spoon?

The spoon lets the patient take a portion of stool and put it straight into the pot without touching it. When the spoon is fixed to the cap it stays inside the closed pot and cannot soil anything else.

What should patients be told when they receive the container?

Pass stool onto clean paper or into a clean dry pot, avoid mixing it with urine or water, take a portion with the spoon, close the lid firmly, check the label and bring it to the lab promptly.

Can this container be used for stool culture?

It can be used for culture if it is sterile and the sample reaches the lab quickly. For delayed transport, laboratories may issue a container with transport medium instead.

Should stool samples be refrigerated?

If they cannot reach the lab within the time it recommends, refrigeration slows bacterial overgrowth and sample breakdown for many tests. It is not suitable for every test, so follow the laboratory’s instructions.

How do labs dispose of used stool pots?

After testing they are treated as infectious waste: closed, bagged and then autoclaved or incinerated according to biomedical waste rules.

Last Updated: September 2026

Stool Container

Quick Answer: A stool container is a small, sealable plastic specimen pot used to collect a faecal sample and carry it to the laboratory for testing. Such containers usually have a small scoop or spoon, often fixed to the cap, so the right amount can be taken without touching the sample.

Collecting a Useful Sample

A faecal sample is only as useful as its collection. The patient passes stool onto clean paper laid over the toilet or into a clean dry receptacle, not into the water, then uses the scoop to transfer a portion into the pot. Samples mixed with urine or toilet water can give misleading results, especially for parasites, so the collection step is worth explaining clearly.

Laboratories use these samples for microscopy for ova, cysts and parasites, for occult blood testing, for bacterial culture in diarrhoeal illness and for tests such as stool pH or reducing substances. Each lab sets how much it needs, how quickly the sample must arrive and whether it may be refrigerated, and those instructions should always be passed on to the patient.

For health workers and laboratory trainees the container is also a teaching item: correct labelling, closing the lid firmly, placing the pot in a sealed biohazard bag with the request form in a separate pocket, and handling every sample as potentially infectious. A revised version is listed separately as the Stool Container, New Design.

Specifications

Use	Collection and transport of faecal samples
Scoop	Spoon or scoop, typical of stool containers
Closure	Sealable lid to prevent leaks in transport
Material	Plastic
Capacity, lid type and sterility	Confirm at enquiry

Applications

Routine stool examination for ova, cysts and parasites
Faecal occult blood testing
Stool culture during outbreaks of diarrhoea
Practical sessions on specimen collection for nursing and laboratory technology students

Care & Handling

Write the patient’s name and the date and time of collection on the container body, not on the lid alone.
Fill only to the level the laboratory asks for; overfilled pots leak in transport.
Close the lid tightly and wipe the outside before bagging.
Treat filled containers as biohazardous and dispose of them by autoclaving or incineration after testing.

Why Choose LabEquip

Hospitals, diagnostic centres, public health programmes and medical laboratory technology colleges use these pots every day. LabEquip supplies them in the Biology Lab Products range, and bulk quantities can be arranged through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much stool should be put in the container?

Follow the laboratory’s instructions. Many labs ask for a portion about the size of a walnut for formed stool, or a few spoonfuls of liquid stool, taken with the scoop.

Can the sample be collected from the toilet bowl water?

No. Water and urine can destroy some parasites and dilute or contaminate the sample. Collect the stool on clean paper or in a clean dry container first, then transfer a portion to the pot.

How soon must the sample reach the laboratory?

As soon as possible. Some tests, such as looking for moving amoebae, need very fresh samples, while others tolerate some delay. The laboratory’s instructions on timing and storage should always be followed.

Is a stool container sterile?

They are made both sterile and clean non-sterile. Sterile containers are preferred when a culture is requested. The sterility of this listing is confirmed at enquiry.

How should filled containers be transported?

Close the lid firmly, place the container in a sealed specimen bag with absorbent material, keep the request form in the separate pocket and carry it upright. Label it as a biological specimen.

Can one sample be used for several tests?

Often yes, if the laboratory agrees and there is enough sample. Some tests need special containers with preservatives, so check with the laboratory before combining requests.

Last Updated: September 2026

Soft Loop Sterile

Quick Answer: Soft Loop Sterile is a disposable, pre-sterilised plastic inoculating loop with a flexible loop tip, used to pick colonies, streak agar plates and transfer small volumes of culture. Because this sterile inoculating loop arrives ready to use and is discarded after one transfer, it needs no flaming in a Bunsen burner.

Plastic Loops versus Flamed Wire Loops

The classic inoculating loop is a nichrome or platinum wire in a handle, heated to red heat in a flame before and after every transfer. Flaming works, but a wet loop can spatter live organisms as it heats, and it needs an open flame on the bench. A sterile plastic loop avoids both: take one from the pack, use it and drop it into disinfectant or a biohazard bag.

Soft describes the tip. A flexible plastic loop glides over the agar rather than digging in, which helps beginners produce clean streak plates without gouges. Loops are also made in calibrated volumes, often 1 microlitre and 10 microlitres, for semi-quantitative work such as urine culture; the volume of this listing can be confirmed with the order.

Plastic loops melt in a flame, so they never go near a Bunsen burner. The loop stays sterile only until it touches something, so hold it by the handle end and keep the tip away from benches, fingers and the outside of containers.

Specifications

Type	Disposable plastic inoculating loop
Sterility	Supplied sterile (per title)
Tip	Flexible (soft) loop
Loop volume and packing	Confirm at enquiry
Heat	Do not flame; single use

Applications

Streaking bacteria for isolated colonies
Picking single colonies for subculture, Gram staining or biochemical tests
Inoculating broths and slopes in teaching labs where flames are restricted
Semi-quantitative plating of urine with a calibrated loop

Care & Handling

Open packs only when ready, drawing loops out handle end first.
Discard each loop after use into disinfectant or a biohazard container; never reuse it.
Keep loops out of Bunsen flames and away from hot surfaces.
Store packs dry and away from sunlight so the packaging stays intact.

Why Choose LabEquip

Microbiology teaching labs, hospital training units and quality-control labs use sterile loops to speed up plating and cut the aerosol risk of flaming. LabEquip supplies them in the Biology Lab Products range; they pair with gamma sterile Petri dishes for fully disposable plating. Ask about loop sizes through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does soft mean in Soft Loop Sterile?

It refers to the flexible plastic loop tip, which bends slightly on the agar instead of cutting into it. That makes smooth streaks easier and reduces damage to the medium.

Can a plastic inoculating loop be flamed?

No. The plastic melts in a flame. Sterile plastic loops are single-use and go into disinfectant or a biohazard bag after one transfer.

Are disposable loops as accurate as wire loops for transferring volume?

Calibrated plastic loops are made to deliver a nominal volume, such as 1 or 10 microlitres, and are widely used for semi-quantitative urine culture. A wire loop’s volume varies with how the wire is bent and how much it has been used.

Why use a sterile plastic loop instead of a wire loop?

It removes the need for a flame, avoids spattering when a wet wire loop is heated, saves time between transfers and gives a fresh sterile tip for every sample.

How do I streak a plate with a plastic loop?

Spread the inoculum over one quarter of the plate, then with a fresh loop drag a few lines from that section into the next, and repeat for the third and fourth sections. Colonies thin out towards the last section.

How should used loops be disposed of?

Drop them straight into a container of disinfectant or an autoclavable biohazard bag, and autoclave before final disposal. Never lay a used loop down on the bench.

Last Updated: September 2026

Scintillation Vial

Quick Answer: A scintillation vial is a small screw-capped vial that holds a sample mixed with liquid scintillation cocktail so a liquid scintillation counter can measure its beta radioactivity. Outside radiochemistry, the same vials are widely used for storing small samples and standards.

Glass or Plastic Vials

In liquid scintillation counting, beta particles from the sample excite solvent and fluor molecules in the cocktail, which emit flashes of light picked up by photomultiplier tubes in the counter. The vial therefore has to be transparent to that light, resistant to the cocktail and uniform in shape, so every vial sits in the detector the same way.

Glass vials resist solvent-based cocktails and do not let solvent diffuse through the wall, but ordinary glass contains traces of potassium-40, which adds background counts; low-potassium glass reduces this. Plastic vials, usually polyethylene, give a lower background and do not break, but some cocktail solvents slowly permeate them. The title does not state the material, so confirm glass or plastic and the vial size before ordering.

The cap matters too: a foil or plastic liner helps stop solvent loss and keeps cocktail from creeping up the threads. Clean vials are also a handy size for storing soil and plant extracts, buffers, powders and reference samples, provided they are relabelled clearly and never mixed with vials from radioactive work.

Specifications

Use	Liquid scintillation counting; small-sample storage
Closure	Screw cap (liner type depends on version)
Material and size	Confirm at enquiry (glass or plastic; standard or mini)
Glass vials (general)	Resist solvents; slight potassium-40 background
Plastic vials (general)	Low background; some solvents permeate the wall

Applications

Counting tritium or carbon-14 labelled samples from uptake or metabolism experiments
Measuring phosphorus-32 or sulfur-35 in molecular biology and biochemistry work
Holding filter discs or tissue digests in cocktail for counting
Storing small quantities of non-radioactive samples and reagents

Care & Handling

Add the cocktail volume your counter’s protocol specifies and cap tightly before shaking.
Wipe the outside of each vial before loading, since fingerprints and cocktail on the wall affect counts.
Let vials stand in the dark before counting if the protocol calls for it, to reduce light-induced background.
Dispose of used vials and cocktail by the route approved for radioactive and solvent waste.

Why Choose LabEquip

Radiochemistry, pharmacology and plant physiology labs, and teaching labs with a counter, use these vials in quantity. LabEquip supplies them in the Biology Lab Products range, with a scintillation vial rack for bench preparation; state glass or plastic on the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is scintillation cocktail?

It is a liquid mixture of a solvent and fluors that turns the energy of beta particles into light. Some cocktails accept water-based samples, and newer types use safer, biodegradable solvents.

Why do glass vials give a higher background?

Ordinary glass contains traces of potassium-40, a naturally radioactive isotope, which adds a few counts to every measurement. Low-potassium glass or plastic vials reduce this background for low-activity samples.

Which isotopes can be counted this way?

Liquid scintillation counting is used mainly for beta emitters such as tritium, carbon-14, phosphorus-32, sulfur-35 and calcium-45. It suits low-energy emitters like tritium, which are hard to detect by other means.

Can plastic vials be used with any cocktail?

Not always. Toluene and xylene based cocktails can diffuse into polyethylene and change the counts over time. Use a cocktail recommended for plastic vials, or count soon after preparation.

Can scintillation vials be reused?

Vials from radioactive work are normally discarded as radioactive or solvent waste. Clean, unused vials can serve for general sample storage, but a vial should never move from radioactive use back to general use.

What is chemiluminescence in scintillation counting?

It is light produced by chemical reactions in the vial, for example when alkaline tissue solubilisers react with the cocktail. It adds false counts, so samples are often left in the dark before counting until the extra light fades.

Last Updated: September 2026

Sample Container (Press & Fit Type)

Quick Answer: A press fit sample container is a small container whose lid is pushed on and snaps into place rather than screwing on. It is used to collect and store specimens, samples and small amounts of reagent, and opens quickly with one hand.

A Push-On Lid Instead of a Screw Cap

The “Press & Fit” name describes the closure: the lid is pressed onto the rim and held by its own fit. That makes it fast to open and close, which suits sampling in the field or at the bench when gloves are wet or the other hand holds a scoop. The trade-off is security. A push-on lid can be forced off by internal pressure or a knock, so for carrying liquids a screw cap container, or tape around the lid, is safer.

The title gives no material, capacity or sterility, and the listing image is not available. Containers of this kind are usually moulded from polypropylene or polystyrene; polypropylene is tougher and generally autoclavable, while polystyrene is clearer but brittle and not autoclavable. If samples must be sterile, as in microbiology or water bacteriology, specify sterile containers.

For small volumes of liquids or precious samples, a screw-closure storage vial is the alternative. Dry solids in larger quantities are better kept in a wide mouth plastic reagent bottle.

Applications

Collecting soil, sand or leaf-litter samples on field trips
Holding pond water samples for microscopy in biology lessons
Storing small portions of a solid reagent for a single practical
Collecting specimens for teaching demonstrations in school and college labs

Specifications

Item	Sample container with push-on (press and fit) lid
Closure	Lid held by friction or snap fit
Typical contents	Soil, water, plant material, biological specimens, small solids
Transport	Tape the lid when carrying liquids
Material, capacity and sterility	Confirm at enquiry

Care & Handling

Label the container body, not the lid, since lids are easily swapped.
Keep volatile solvents out; a push-on lid does not seal against vapour.
Press the lid down all the way round and check that it has seated evenly.

Why Choose LabEquip

Biology teachers planning field work, and labs handing out small portions of samples, use push-lid containers for speed. LabEquip lists them with its chemistry lab equipment; ask about sizes and sterile options through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a press fit and a screw cap container?

A press fit lid pushes on and snaps into place, so it is quick to open and close with one hand. A screw cap seals more securely and resists being knocked open, which matters when liquids are carried.

Is a press fit container leak-proof?

It resists spills from normal handling, but pressure or a knock can lift the lid. For liquids in transit, wrap tape around the lid or place the container inside a sealed bag.

Can the container be autoclaved?

Only if it is made of an autoclavable plastic such as polypropylene. Polystyrene containers soften and deform at autoclave temperature, so look for the material marking before sterilising.

Are the containers sterile?

The listing does not say. Sterile, individually wrapped containers are needed for microbiological samples, while clean non-sterile containers are enough for soil or general specimens. Confirm sterility with us before ordering for microbiology.

Can I store chemicals in them?

Small portions of stable solids and aqueous solutions, yes, for short periods. Do not use them for volatile solvents, strong oxidising acids or anything that must be kept airtight.

How should samples be labelled?

Write the date, location or sample number and the collector’s name on the container body with a waterproof marker or label. Lids get mixed up when several containers are open together.

Last Updated: September 2026

Ria Vial

Quick Answer: An RIA vial is a small, usually round-bottomed plastic tube used to hold samples and reagents in radioimmunoassay, where the tubes go straight into a gamma counter after the assay. The same vials serve for other immunoassays, serology and small-volume sample handling.

How the Vial Is Used in an Assay

In a typical radioimmunoassay, a fixed amount of antibody and iodine-125 labelled antigen is added to each tube together with standards or patient samples. After incubation the bound antigen is separated, often by precipitating the antibody complex, spinning the tubes and decanting the liquid, and each tube is then placed in a gamma counter. The vial therefore has to hold the reaction and fit the counter’s racks.

Vials in this format are made in polystyrene, which is clear, and in polypropylene, which resists more chemicals and binds some proteins differently. The size most often used is 12 x 75 mm, but the dimensions and material of this listing should be checked against your counter and protocol.

Outside radioisotope work, the same small tubes are used for blood grouping and cross-matching practicals, agglutination tests and preparing cell suspensions. For incubations that need closing, fit a flip-top cap to keep the tubes covered.

Specifications

Type	Small round-bottom assay tube (RIA format)
Common size	12 x 75 mm is the usual RIA format
Material	Plastic, typically polystyrene or polypropylene
Dimensions and resin of this listing	Confirm at enquiry
Uses	Radioimmunoassay, gamma counting, serology, small-volume work

Applications

Radioimmunoassay of hormones in research and teaching labs
Tube-method blood grouping and antibody screening practicals
Agglutination and precipitation tests in immunology classes
Preparing small cell suspensions for counting or staining

Care & Handling

Run radioactive assays in the designated area and follow your radiation safety rules for waste.
Write sample numbers high on the vial so labels are not lost in a water bath.
Handle polystyrene vials gently; they crack if dropped or spun too hard.
Do not autoclave polystyrene vials; discard them after a single use.

Why Choose LabEquip

Immunology and clinical biochemistry teaching labs, blood-bank training courses and research groups running tube-based assays order them in bulk. LabEquip lists them in the Biology Lab Products range; specify size and material through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an RIA vial the same as a test tube?

It is a small test tube made for assay work. These vials are narrower and shorter than standard school test tubes and are plastic so they can be discarded after one use and fit counter racks.

Should I choose polystyrene or polypropylene vials?

Polystyrene is clearer, which helps when reading agglutination or precipitates by eye. Polypropylene resists more solvents and tolerates autoclaving. Some assays specify one material because proteins bind differently to each surface.

Can these vials be used without radioactivity?

Yes. The format is widely used for non-radioactive immunoassays, blood grouping, serology and cell suspension work. The name only reflects the assay they were first made for.

Can the vials be centrifuged?

Yes, at the moderate speeds used in serology and assay separation steps, provided they sit in a suitable centrifuge carrier. Polystyrene is more brittle than polypropylene and can crack at higher speeds.

How are used assay vials disposed of?

Vials from radioimmunoassay go into radioactive waste according to your licence conditions. Vials used with blood or serum are treated as biohazardous waste and autoclaved or incinerated.

Do RIA vials come with caps?

Many are supplied open, with push-on or flip-top caps sold separately for incubation and storage. Whether caps are included in this listing is confirmed at enquiry.

Last Updated: September 2026

Ria Tube Flip Top Cap

Quick Answer: An RIA tube flip top cap is a plastic closure with a hinged lid that fits the mouth of RIA tubes, the small assay tubes used in radioimmunoassay and other immunoassays. The hinged lid seals the tube during mixing, incubation and storage and can be opened and closed with one hand.

Why Flip-Top Caps Suit Assay Tubes

RIA tubes are most often made in the 12 x 75 mm format, the same size used in many gamma counter racks and in flow cytometry. Push-on or plug caps have to be removed completely and put down on the bench, where they can be swapped or contaminated. A flip-top cap stays attached, so every tube keeps its own lid and the lid is out of the way while reagents go in.

The title leaves one point open: whether this listing is the cap alone, for fitting to tubes you already have, or tubes supplied with flip-top caps. Because a cap must match the tube’s outer diameter and rim, confirm the tube size it fits and what is included before ordering.

In a radioimmunoassay, tubes are incubated with antibody, labelled antigen and sample, then the bound fraction is separated and counted. A closed tube limits evaporation during long incubations and keeps radioactive liquid inside if a rack is knocked. The same caps are useful for storing serum aliquots or reagents in small tubes.

Specifications

Type	Hinged flip-top closure for RIA tubes
Fits	RIA assay tubes; diameter to be matched to your tubes
Supplied as	Cap alone or with tubes: confirm at enquiry
Material	Plastic
Uses	Sealing during mixing, incubation and storage

Applications

Closing assay tubes during long or overnight immunoassay incubations
Preventing spills of radioactive or biological samples if a rack is knocked
Storing small serum or plasma aliquots in the fridge
Mixing reagents by inversion without a separate stopper

Care & Handling

Press the lid down until it snaps shut all round before inverting a tube.
Open the hinge away from you to avoid splashes.
Test the seal before relying on a flip-top cap for long-term freezer storage.
Dispose of caps used with radioactive material as your radiation safety rules require.

Why Choose LabEquip

Immunology, clinical biochemistry and endocrinology teaching labs that still run RIA or similar tube-based assays use caps to keep incubations closed. LabEquip lists these caps in the Biology Lab Products range beside the RIA vial; describe your tubes on the contact page so the fit can be checked.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an RIA tube?

An RIA tube is a small, usually round-bottomed plastic tube used for radioimmunoassay, commonly in the 12 x 75 mm size that fits gamma counter racks. The same tubes serve other immunoassays and sample work.

What is the advantage of a flip-top cap over a push cap?

The flip-top lid stays attached to its tube, so caps cannot be swapped between samples or dropped on the bench. It also allows one-handed opening while the other hand holds a pipette.

Will the cap fit any 12 x 75 mm tube?

Fit depends on the tube’s rim and wall thickness as well as its nominal size, so polystyrene and polypropylene tubes from different makers can differ slightly. Try a few caps on your tubes before a large order.

Is the cap leak-proof when a tube is inverted?

A correctly closed flip-top cap is designed to seal for mixing by inversion, but seals vary. Invert a few filled tubes over a tissue before trusting the seal with hazardous liquids.

Can the caps be reused?

Caps from non-hazardous work can be washed and reused if the hinge and seal are undamaged. Caps from radioactive or infectious work are disposed of according to your safety procedures.

What is radioimmunoassay used for?

It measures very small amounts of hormones, drugs and other substances by letting a radioactively labelled antigen compete with the sample’s antigen for antibody binding. Many labs now use non-radioactive immunoassays, but the tube format remains in use.

Last Updated: September 2026