Racks For Scintillation Vial

Quick Answer: A scintillation vial rack is a bench rack with round holes sized for scintillation vials, holding them upright while samples and scintillation cocktail are added, capped and labelled. It keeps vials in counting order before they are transferred to the counter’s own cassettes.

Preparing Vials for Liquid Scintillation Counting

Liquid scintillation counting measures low-energy beta emitters such as tritium and carbon-14 by mixing the sample with a scintillation cocktail inside a vial. Before counting, each vial is filled, capped, shaken and labelled, often in batches of dozens. A dedicated rack holds the vials steady through these steps, so a tipped vial does not spread radioactive cocktail across the bench.

Vials come mainly as standard vials of about 20 ml and mini vials of around 6 to 7 ml, and a rack is normally made for one of these diameters. Which vial size this rack takes, and how many positions it has, can be confirmed with the order.

Radioactive work stays inside the area set aside by your radiation safety rules, and the rack becomes part of that area. A tray lined with absorbent paper under the rack catches drips, and the rack should be monitored or wipe-tested after use as your local procedure requires.

Specifications

Holds	Scintillation vials, upright
Vial size and positions	Confirm at enquiry
Material	Not stated in the title
Use	Filling, capping, labelling and short-term storage of vials
Setting	Radioisotope work area, used with a drip tray

Care & Handling

Stand the rack in a spill tray lined with absorbent paper.
Monitor or wipe-test the rack after radioactive work as your radiation safety procedure requires.
Do not let solvent-based cocktail pool on the rack, since some solvents attack plastics.
Label the rack for radioactive use so it is never moved to general work.

Applications

Batch preparation of tritium or carbon-14 samples for counting
Holding cocktail blanks and standards alongside the samples
Keeping vials in order for loading into counter cassettes
Short-term storage of sealed vials awaiting counting or disposal

Why Choose LabEquip

Radiochemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology labs that run liquid scintillation counting need racks that keep vials in order during preparation. LabEquip offers this rack in the Biology Lab Products range alongside scintillation vials; give the vial size on the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put the rack directly into a scintillation counter?

Usually not. Most counters use their own cassettes or racks designed for the instrument’s conveyor. This rack is for bench preparation and storage, after which vials go into the counter’s holders.

Will standard and mini vials fit the same rack?

Normally not, because the holes are sized for one vial diameter. Mini vials are narrower and would sit loosely in holes made for standard 20 ml vials.

How should the rack be cleaned after radioactive work?

Wipe it with a decontamination solution suited to radioisotopes, then monitor or wipe-test it according to your radiation safety procedure. If contamination remains, keep it for radioactive work only or dispose of it as radioactive waste.

Can scintillation cocktail damage the rack?

Solvent-based cocktails containing toluene or xylene can soften or craze some plastics. Wipe drips promptly and prefer safer, biodegradable cocktails where the protocol allows.

Why keep vials in a fixed order in the rack?

Counting results are printed by position, so loading vials in the same order as the sample sheet avoids mix-ups between the rack, the counter cassette and the printout.

Can the rack hold other vials?

Yes, any vial of the same diameter, such as sample or storage vials, will fit. Racks that have been used with radioactivity should stay separate from those used for general work.

Last Updated: September 2026

Racks For Petri Dishes

Quick Answer: A Petri dish rack is a stand that holds Petri dishes in stacks or separate slots so plates can be poured, dried, incubated, stored and carried without toppling. Microbiology labs use racks to keep large numbers of plates organised on benches and in incubators.

Organising Plates from Pouring to Reading

A busy microbiology lab can pour dozens of plates in one session, and loose stacks slide and fall when bumped. A rack keeps the plates in columns or slots, which makes it simple to count them, carry a whole batch to the incubator in one trip and find a plate later by its position. Racks are made both in stainless steel wire and in plastic; the construction of this listing and the number of plates it takes can be confirmed with the order.

Slotted racks that hold each dish separately are handy for drying freshly poured plates, since air reaches each lid, and for reading results without unstacking. Column racks that hold a vertical stack save space in incubators and refrigerators. Both types help with inverted incubation, because the rack stops upside-down stacks from sliding.

In teaching labs the rack also works as a class organiser: each group loads its plates into one column, the whole rack goes into the incubator, and the next lesson starts with every group’s plates in one place.

Applications

Holding freshly poured agar plates while they set and dry
Carrying a class set of plates to and from the incubator
Storing prepared media plates in a cold room in labelled columns
Keeping inverted plates stable during incubation

Specifications

Holds	Petri dishes in stacks or slots
Construction, plate diameter and capacity	Confirm at enquiry
Uses	Pouring, drying, incubation, storage and transport
Fits	Bench, incubator or refrigerator shelves (check shelf height)
Cleaning	Disinfectant wipe; autoclave only if the material allows

Care & Handling

Measure the incubator shelf spacing before loading a tall rack.
Disinfect the rack after any spill from a cracked plate.
Do not overload column racks; a tall stack can press on the lowest lids.
Autoclave only metal or polypropylene racks; other plastics may warp.

Why Choose LabEquip

Microbiology labs, food testing training centres and school biology departments that pour plates in bulk use racks to keep batches in order. LabEquip supplies them in the Biology Lab Products range along with plastic culture Petri dishes; state your plate diameter on the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Petri dishes does the rack hold?

Racks are built for a particular dish diameter, and the most common Petri dishes are about 90 to 100 mm across. Give the diameter of your dishes when you enquire so the matching rack can be confirmed.

Can Petri dishes be incubated in the rack upside down?

Yes. Inverted incubation is standard for agar plates, and a rack keeps inverted stacks from sliding or tipping when the incubator door is opened and closed.

Is a slotted rack or a stacking rack more useful?

Slotted racks hold each plate separately, which helps drying and quick inspection. Stacking racks hold columns of plates and save more incubator and refrigerator space. The choice depends on whether space or access matters more.

Can the rack be autoclaved?

Stainless steel racks can be autoclaved, as can polypropylene ones. Racks made from other plastics should be cleaned with a chemical disinfectant, since heat may deform them.

How many plates should be stacked in one column?

Keep stacks low enough that the bottom lid is not pressed hard and the column stays steady when carried. Warm, freshly poured plates cool and dry more evenly in shorter stacks.

Does a rack help with contamination control?

Indirectly. Plates held apart and handled less are opened, moved and dropped less often, which lowers the chance of airborne contamination and spills.

Last Updated: September 2026

Rack for Micro Centrifuge Tubes, ABS

Quick Answer: An ABS microcentrifuge tube rack is a bench rack moulded from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic, with holes that hold microcentrifuge tubes upright. ABS makes the rack stiff and resistant to knocks, which suits everyday pipetting, but it is generally not autoclavable.

What ABS Brings to a Tube Rack

ABS is the tough, glossy plastic used for instrument housings and toy building bricks. In a rack it gives straight, rigid walls that do not flex as tubes are pushed in, crisp moulded markings and a smooth surface that wipes clean. It also stands up to dilute acids, alkalis and salt solutions, which covers most spills on a molecular biology bench.

Its limits are heat and certain solvents. ABS softens at temperatures well below those in an autoclave, so this rack is disinfected with ethanol or a mild disinfectant instead. Acetone, esters, ketones and chlorinated solvents can craze or dissolve it, so keep it away from direct spills during phenol-chloroform extraction.

Labs that must autoclave their racks usually choose polypropylene; the general rack for micro centrifuge tubes page describes the other formats. Where autoclaving is not part of the routine, ABS racks keep their shape and markings well through daily use.

Cleaning an ABS Rack

Disinfect with 70 percent ethanol or a quaternary ammonium wipe.
Keep acetone, chloroform and other solvents that attack ABS well away.
Never put the rack in an autoclave, hot-air oven or on a hot plate.
Store out of direct sunlight, which can fade and embrittle ABS over time.

Specifications

Material	ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), per title
Holds	Microcentrifuge tubes
Rigidity	Stiff, impact-resistant plastic (general ABS property)
Heat	Generally not autoclavable; disinfect chemically
Positions and hole size	Confirm at enquiry

Applications

Daily pipetting stations in molecular biology labs
Sample sorting in clinical biochemistry teaching labs
Organising reagent aliquots on the bench during kit-based assays
Holding tubes while samples are prepared for gel electrophoresis

Why Choose LabEquip

Labs that want a stiff, easily wiped rack for routine bench work, and have no need to autoclave it, choose ABS. LabEquip lists it in the Biology Lab Products range; send tube size and quantity through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ABS plastic?

ABS stands for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a tough thermoplastic that combines rigidity with good impact resistance. It is widely used for equipment housings and moulded parts that must keep their shape.

Can an ABS rack be autoclaved?

No. ABS softens below the 121 degrees Celsius used in autoclaves and will warp. Clean and disinfect it with ethanol, a mild detergent or a suitable surface disinfectant.

How does ABS compare with polypropylene for racks?

ABS is stiffer, with a glossier, harder surface, so racks feel solid and markings stay sharp. Polypropylene is more flexible, more resistant to solvents and can be autoclaved, which suits labs that sterilise racks routinely.

Which chemicals can damage an ABS rack?

Acetone, ketones, esters, chloroform and other chlorinated solvents can craze, soften or dissolve ABS. Aqueous buffers, dilute acids and bases and alcohol wipes are generally fine.

Can the rack be used in a freezer?

ABS keeps its toughness better than many plastics in the cold, so short spells in a fridge or freezer are usually acceptable. Avoid knocking a cold rack and let it warm up before washing.

Is this rack suitable for RNA work?

Yes, if kept clean. Wipe it with an RNase-decontaminating solution before use and reserve it for RNA, since the rack cannot be baked or autoclaved to remove RNases.

Last Updated: September 2026

Rack for Micro Centrifuge Tubes

Quick Answer: A microcentrifuge tube rack is a bench rack with rows of small holes that hold microcentrifuge tubes, the snap-cap tubes commonly of 1.5 or 2 ml, upright during pipetting and sample processing. It keeps tubes in order and stops them rolling or tipping when caps are opened.

Keeping Small Tubes Upright and Ordered

Microcentrifuge tubes are the workhorse of molecular and biochemistry labs, used for DNA and protein extractions, enzyme reactions and sample storage. They are light and tapered, so they fall over easily; a rack holds each one so its cap can be flicked open with a thumb while the other hand holds the pipette.

Racks for these tubes come as simple one-piece grids, as racks whose lid doubles as a storage box, and as flip racks with a different hole size on each face. This listing is the general rack, while the ABS version is specified by material. Match the hole size and number of positions to the tubes you use, including 0.5 ml tubes if needed.

A useful habit is to give each sample a row and each protocol step a column, so the rack itself shows how far every sample has progressed. When a protocol involves several incubations, a rack that also fits a water bath or freezer saves moving tubes between holders.

Applications

Plasmid mini-preps and genomic DNA extractions
Setting up restriction digests and ligations
Holding protein samples before gel loading
Aliquoting enzymes, primers or antibodies for freezer storage

Specifications

Holds	Microcentrifuge tubes (commonly 1.5 and 2 ml)
Form	Bench rack with a grid of holes
Material	Plastic (resin not stated in the title)
Hole size and positions	Confirm at enquiry
Uses	Pipetting, extractions, sorting and short-term storage

Care & Handling

Wipe the rack after each session to remove dried buffer, which can make holes too tight.
Keep separate, labelled racks for radioactive or hazardous work.
Find out whether the plastic tolerates autoclaving before sterilising the rack.
Keep acetone and chlorinated solvents away, since they attack many rack plastics.

Why Choose LabEquip

Molecular biology, biochemistry and biotechnology teaching labs put one of these racks at every bench position. LabEquip supplies them in the Biology Lab Products range, and class-set quantities can be requested on the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size tubes does a microcentrifuge tube rack hold?

Most racks are made for the standard 1.5 and 2 ml microtubes, which have a similar outer diameter. Some racks add smaller holes for 0.5 ml tubes, while 0.2 ml PCR tubes need a dedicated PCR rack.

Can tubes be stored in the rack in a freezer?

Short-term, yes, if the rack plastic tolerates cold. For long-term frozen storage a lidded freezer box with a numbered grid is safer, because an open rack does not protect tubes from knocks or frost.

How do I open microtube caps safely?

Keep the tube in the rack and open the cap by pushing up on the tab with a thumb, pointing it away from your face. For hazardous samples, spin the tube briefly first so no liquid sits under the cap, which reduces aerosols.

Is a floating rack better than a bench rack?

A floating rack is designed for water baths and holds tubes at a set depth. A bench rack is sturdier for pipetting and storage. Many labs keep both and move tubes only when they go into a water bath.

How should the rack be cleaned?

Wash in warm water with lab detergent, rinse and air dry. For DNA or RNA work, wipe with a nuclease-decontaminating solution. Autoclave only if the rack is made of an autoclavable plastic such as polypropylene.

Why do some racks have letters and numbers moulded on them?

Grid markings let you record the position of every sample, so you are not relying only on handwriting on tiny tubes, and another person can follow your work.

Last Updated: September 2026

Rack for 15/50 ml Centrifuge Tubes

Quick Answer: This centrifuge tube rack has holes sized for the two common conical centrifuge tube sizes, 15 ml and 50 ml, so these cone-bottomed tubes can stand upright on the bench. It keeps tubes steady while they are filled, labelled, capped and carried to the centrifuge.

Holding Two Tube Sizes in One Rack

Conical tubes cannot stand on their own because of their pointed base, apart from self-standing versions with a moulded skirt. Racks for this pair of sizes come in a few layouts: one rack with rows of both hole sizes, a two-sided rack with 15 ml holes on one face and 50 ml holes on the other, or an interlocking set. The layout and number of positions of this rack can be confirmed with the order.

In cell culture rooms the rack sits inside the biosafety cabinet while cells are harvested into 15 ml tubes or media is split into 50 ml aliquots. Holding both sizes in one footprint saves space on the cabinet floor and keeps the air grilles clear. Extraction work uses it the same way: samples are spun in 50 ml tubes, then the supernatant moves to 15 ml tubes for the next step.

Polypropylene racks can usually be autoclaved as well as wiped with disinfectant, while racks of other plastics may only tolerate chemical disinfection. If the rack will also stand in a water bath, remember that part-filled tubes are buoyant and can lift out of their holes.

Specifications

Tube sizes	15 ml and 50 ml conical centrifuge tubes (per title)
Function	Holds cone-bottom tubes upright
Material	Moulded plastic
Layout and number of positions	Confirm at enquiry
Cleaning	Detergent wash or disinfectant wipe; autoclave only if the material allows

Applications

Holding tubes in a biosafety cabinet during cell harvesting and media preparation
Organising 50 ml tubes of soil, water or food homogenate before centrifugation
Keeping aliquots upright in a fridge or cold room
Sorting tubes by sample before loading a swing-bucket centrifuge

Care & Handling

Put the heavier 50 ml tubes towards the middle so the rack does not tip.
Wipe spills at once, especially culture media, which dries into a sticky film.
Mark rack positions with tape if the same layout is used repeatedly.
Autoclave only racks marked as polypropylene or autoclavable.

Why Choose LabEquip

Cell culture labs, microbiology teaching labs and clinical training centres that handle conical tubes every day need a stable place for them on the bench. LabEquip stocks this rack in the Biology Lab Products range together with a rack for micro centrifuge tubes for smaller volumes; ask about layout on the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do 15 ml and 50 ml tubes need a rack?

Most conical centrifuge tubes have a pointed base and fall over if stood on the bench. A rack holds them upright so they can be opened, filled and labelled with one hand free.

Can the rack hold self-standing 50 ml tubes?

Yes, self-standing tubes with a skirted base fit the 50 ml holes like ordinary conical tubes, although they can also stand on the bench without help.

Will the rack fit inside a biosafety cabinet?

Tube racks are compact, but compare the rack’s footprint with the cabinet work surface and keep it clear of the front and rear air grilles so airflow is not blocked.

Can I autoclave a rack for centrifuge tubes?

Polypropylene racks can generally be autoclaved. Racks made of polystyrene, acrylic or ABS can warp, so disinfect those with 70 percent ethanol or a suitable disinfectant instead.

Can this rack be used in a water bath?

A bench rack can stand in a water bath if it is stable and the water stays below the tube caps, but part-filled tubes may float. A floating rack or weighted tubes are more reliable for water bath work.

How do I keep track of tubes in a crowded rack?

Write the sample name on the tube body rather than the cap, arrange tubes in the order of your sample sheet, and move each processed tube to a second row so finished and unfinished samples stay apart.

Last Updated: September 2026

Pipette Tips Box

Quick Answer: A pipette tips box is a lidded box with a perforated rack that holds disposable micropipette tips upright in a grid. The pipette is pressed straight into a tip, so tips are fitted without being touched and stay covered between uses.

Why Tips Are Racked, Not Loose

Tips bought loose in a bag must be picked up by hand and pushed onto the pipette, which transfers skin oils, dust and nucleases to the part that touches the sample. Racked in a box, each tip stands open end up; the pipette nozzle is lowered into it and pressed home. The lid keeps the remaining tips clean, and the rack holds them at an even height so the fit is consistent.

The title does not give the number of positions, the tip size or the material, and the listing image is not available. Many tips boxes use a 96-position layout in an 8 by 12 grid, which also suits multichannel pipettes, and each box is made for a particular tip size, so confirm that it matches your tips. Polypropylene boxes are generally autoclavable, which allows tips to be sterilised in the rack.

Plain micropipette tips bought in bulk can be refilled into the box by gloved hand and then autoclaved. A reagent reservoir completes the set-up for multichannel work.

Specifications

Item	Lidded box with perforated rack for pipette tips
Function	Holds tips upright for hands-free fitting
Layout	Grid of holes; many boxes use 96 positions
Sterilisation	Polypropylene boxes are generally autoclavable
Tip size, positions and material	Confirm at enquiry

Care & Handling

Refill wearing clean gloves, touching tips only on the outside of the wide end, and close the lid straight away.
Autoclave with the lid closed but not tightly latched, if the design allows, and let the box dry before use.
Label boxes by tip size and by whether they are sterile.

Applications

Keeping tips ready at each student’s micropipette station
Sterilising tips for microbiology or molecular biology work
Loading eight or twelve tips at once onto a multichannel pipette
Refilling from bulk bags to cut down on plastic waste from pre-racked boxes

Why Choose LabEquip

Labs that have moved to micropipettes for class practicals need a box for each station and each tip size. LabEquip offers these in its chemistry lab equipment range; send your tip size and number of stations through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refill a tips box with loose tips?

Yes. Wearing clean gloves, place the tips into the rack wide end up, or use a refill system if your tip supplier offers one, then close the lid. Autoclave the refilled box if sterile tips are needed.

Is the box autoclavable?

Polypropylene boxes are generally autoclavable at 121 °C. The material is not stated in the listing, so confirm it before sterilising; boxes made of polystyrene or polycarbonate may warp or crack.

Will the box fit every tip size?

No. Racks are made for particular tip sizes, since a 10 µl tip is far narrower than a 1000 µl tip. Match the box to the tips you use.

Why use a racked box with a multichannel pipette?

The grid spacing matches the spacing of the multichannel nozzles, so eight or twelve tips are picked up in one press. Loose tips cannot be loaded this way.

How do I stop the tips becoming contaminated?

Open the box only to pick up a tip, never touch the tips with bare hands, and close the lid between uses. Discard any tip that has fallen out or been touched.

Can the box be used to store used tips?

It should not be. Used tips belong in a waste container, and an autoclaved box should be reserved for clean or sterile tips only.

Last Updated: September 2026

Pipette Tips & Filter Tips

Quick Answer: This listing covers plain pipette tips and filter pipette tips for air-displacement micropipettes. Filter tips contain a porous barrier in the upper end that stops aerosols and splashes reaching the pipette shaft, protecting both the pipette and the next sample.

Plain Tips or Filter Tips?

When a micropipette draws up liquid, a little aerosol can rise with the air cushion towards the nozzle. For routine buffers and dilutions this does not matter. For PCR set-up, work with cultures, radioactive or hazardous samples and volatile liquids, it can carry traces into the pipette and from there into later samples. A filter tip places a porous plug, commonly of hydrophobic polyethylene, between the liquid and the pipette to intercept those droplets.

The title lists both types under one name. It gives no volume sizes or sterility, and the listing image is not available. Filter tips are usually bought pre-sterilised in racks, while plain tips come loose in bags or racked, sterile or non-sterile; confirm which forms and sizes are supplied.

Plain tips remain the economical choice for general work and are also listed separately as micropipette tips. Racked in a pipette tips box, either kind stays clean until the pipette picks it up.

Applications

Setting up PCR reactions, where carry-over of DNA can give false positives
Pipetting bacterial cultures in microbiology practicals
Handling volatile solvents or corrosive samples that could damage the pipette piston
Routine buffer and reagent dispensing with plain tips

Specifications

Item	Disposable micropipette tips, plain and with filter
Filter	Porous barrier in the upper part of the tip (filter tips)
Material	Tips are usually polypropylene
Main use of filter tips	PCR, cultures, hazardous or volatile samples
Sizes, packaging and sterility	Confirm at enquiry

Care & Handling

Do not draw liquid up to the filter; a wetted filter can block and the sample is lost.
Keep filter tips in their closed rack until use, and shut the lid between tips.
Read the pack before autoclaving filter tips; heat can affect some filter materials, and pre-sterilised racks need no further treatment.

Why Choose LabEquip

Molecular biology and microbiology teaching labs need both kinds: plain tips for everyday dispensing and filter tips where contamination would ruin an experiment. LabEquip lists them together in its chemistry lab equipment range; tell us your volumes and pipette model through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need filter tips rather than plain tips?

Use filter tips when aerosols could contaminate the pipette or later samples, as in PCR set-up, work with cultures or hazardous material, and volatile or corrosive liquids. Plain tips are fine for routine buffers and reagents.

Does a filter tip make pipetting more accurate?

Not in itself. Its purpose is to prevent contamination. Accuracy still depends on correct tip fit, the right volume setting, a steady technique and a calibrated micropipette.

What happens if liquid touches the filter?

Many filters are designed to slow or block flow when wetted, so the sample may be held back or lost. Keep the volume within the tip’s rated range and draw up slowly so the liquid stays below the filter.

Can filter tips be autoclaved?

They are normally supplied pre-sterilised and ready to use. Autoclaving them again can affect some filter materials, so follow the instructions on the rack or bag.

Are filter tips needed for teaching labs?

Many school and undergraduate practicals use plain tips throughout. Filter tips are worth using for PCR and microbiology exercises, where cross-contamination would give misleading results for the whole class.

Do filter tips fit the same micropipettes as plain tips?

They are made in the same fits and volume ranges, but check that the tip length and fit match your pipette model. The filter reduces the usable volume slightly, so choose a size above the volume you need.

Last Updated: September 2026

Pipette Tips

Quick Answer: Micropipette tips are disposable conical tips, usually polypropylene, that fit onto the nozzle of an adjustable air-displacement micropipette. Only the tip touches the liquid, so changing it between samples prevents carry-over.

The Part of the Pipette That Touches the Sample

An air-displacement micropipette never draws liquid into its body. A piston moves a cushion of air, and the liquid rises only into the tip. That design makes the tip critical: it must seal well on the nozzle, its bore must release liquid cleanly, and it must be changed whenever the sample changes. Poor fit is one of the commonest reasons for inaccurate micropipetting.

The title gives no volume range, colour, sterility or packaging, and the listing image is not available. Tips are made in sizes to match micropipette ranges, commonly up to 10 µl, 200 µl and 1000 µl, and some ranges colour-code them, for example yellow for 200 µl and blue for 1000 µl. Confirm that the tips fit the brand and model of your micropipettes, since universal fit does not suit every pipette equally.

For work where aerosols could contaminate the pipette shaft, the filter tips listing is the better choice. Loose tips can be loaded into a tips box for touch-free fitting.

Specifications

Item	Disposable tips for air-displacement micropipettes
Material	Usually polypropylene, the standard material for tips
Function	Holds the liquid so the pipette body stays clean
Use	Single use; change between samples and reagents
Volume range, fit and sterility	Confirm at enquiry

Applications

Measuring enzyme, buffer and substrate volumes in biochemistry practicals
Loading DNA samples into agarose gel wells
Preparing serial dilutions for microbiology plate counts
Dispensing small reagent volumes in microscale chemistry

Care & Handling

Fit a tip by pressing the pipette firmly into it in the box, not by pushing it on with fingers.
Pre-rinse the tip once with the liquid when pipetting viscous or volatile samples.
Eject used tips into a waste container and never reuse a tip between different samples.
Keep bulk tips in their bag or box so they stay clean.

Why Choose LabEquip

Biotechnology, microbiology and biochemistry labs get through tips quickly, so they are usually ordered in bulk to match their pipette sizes. LabEquip lists tips in its chemistry lab equipment range; send your micropipette model and tip size through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know the tips will fit my micropipette?

Tips are made for particular nozzle shapes, and even universal-fit tips do not seal equally well on every brand. Check the tip against your micropipette model and look for a snug fit that needs no twisting or force.

Why do tips come in different colours?

Some ranges colour-code tips by volume, such as yellow for up to 200 µl and blue for up to 1000 µl, to make selection quicker. Colour has no effect on accuracy, and natural uncoloured tips are also common.

Can pipette tips be autoclaved?

Polypropylene tips are generally autoclavable at 121 °C, usually racked in a tips box and dried afterwards. Pre-sterilised tips should not be re-autoclaved unless the packaging says so.

Should I use the first or second stop when pipetting?

Press to the first stop before drawing up the liquid and release slowly; to dispense, press to the first stop and continue to the second stop to blow out the remainder. This is the standard forward pipetting technique.

When should I change the tip?

Change it for every new sample or reagent, whenever it has touched a surface other than the liquid, and if liquid has entered or remained inside it. Reusing tips is the main source of cross-contamination in micropipetting.

Why does liquid stay in the tip after dispensing?

Viscous or detergent-containing liquids wet the plastic and cling to it. Pre-rinsing the tip, dispensing slowly, touching the tip to the vessel wall, or using low-retention tips reduces the residue.

Last Updated: September 2026

Pipette Pasteur

Quick Answer: A Pasteur pipette is a simple transfer pipette with a narrow tip, used with a squeeze bulb to move small volumes of liquid drop by drop between containers. It is a transfer tool rather than a measuring one.

Drop-by-Drop Transfer Without Measurement

Much of practical chemistry and biology involves moving liquid in small, uncounted amounts: adding an indicator, drawing off a supernatant, placing a drop on a slide or filling a cuvette. This pipette does it with no more than a squeeze and release. Because nothing is being measured, it can be cheap, simple and, in most forms, disposable.

This listing sits in LabEquip’s plastic labware group, and its earlier description refers to a squeeze bulb. The title itself names neither the material nor the bulb type, and two forms share the name: a glass pipette used with a separate rubber teat, and a one-piece polyethylene transfer pipette with the bulb moulded in. Confirm which is supplied; the disposable Pasteur pipette listing covers the same family.

Plastic transfer pipettes often carry moulded graduations on the stem. These are rough guides only, but for filling a plastic cuvette to the right height, an approximate scale is all that is needed.

Applications

Adding indicator or reagent drop by drop in test-tube reactions
Removing supernatant liquid after centrifuging or settling
Placing a drop of stain or culture on a microscope slide
Filling cuvettes and small vials without splashing

Specifications

Item	Pasteur (transfer) pipette with narrow tip
Operation	Squeeze the bulb to draw up, squeeze again to release
Purpose	Transfer of small volumes; not for accurate measurement
Use	Commonly single-use to avoid cross-contamination
Material, length and bulb type	Confirm at enquiry

Care & Handling

Use a fresh pipette for each reagent or sample; one carried from bottle to bottle contaminates both.
Keep the tip pointing down while liquid is inside, so it does not run into the bulb.
Discard used pipettes that have held biological material as local rules require, and put glass ones in a sharps container, since their tips break into sharp fragments.

Why Choose LabEquip

Biology and chemistry teachers issue these pipettes by the hundred for class practicals, so they are usually ordered in bulk. LabEquip lists them in its chemistry lab equipment range; confirm the type and quantity through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this pipette accurate enough for measuring volumes?

No. It is designed for transfer. Stem graduations on plastic versions give only an approximate volume, so use a graduated pipette, volumetric pipette or micropipette when the volume affects the result.

Can Pasteur pipettes be reused?

Glass ones can be washed and reused for non-critical work, though the narrow tip is hard to clean. Plastic transfer pipettes are designed for single use, and reusing them risks contamination.

Are plastic transfer pipettes suitable for organic solvents?

Polyethylene resists alcohols and most aqueous solutions, but some solvents, such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, soften it or extract substances from it. Glass pipettes are the safer choice for solvent work.

How do I avoid getting liquid in the bulb?

Squeeze the bulb before placing the tip in the liquid, release slowly, and keep the pipette pointing downward until the liquid is delivered. Never lay a filled pipette on its side.

Are these pipettes sterile?

Sterility depends on how they are packed. Sterile, individually wrapped pipettes are available for microbiology, while bulk-packed pipettes are clean but not sterile. State which you need when ordering.

How should used pipettes be disposed of?

Glass pipettes go into a sharps or broken-glass container. Plastic ones that have held microbial cultures should be disinfected or autoclaved in a biohazard bag before disposal, following the laboratory’s waste rules.

Last Updated: September 2026

Petri Dishes Disposable – Gamma Sterile

Quick Answer: Gamma sterile Petri dishes are disposable plastic culture dishes sterilised by gamma irradiation after packing, so they arrive sterile and ready for pouring agar. They suit microbiology work where plates must be free of contaminants and plastic dishes cannot be heat-sterilised.

What Gamma Sterilisation Means for the User

Polystyrene dishes cannot be autoclaved, so manufacturers sterilise them another way. In gamma sterilisation, sealed packs of dishes are exposed to gamma rays, usually from a cobalt-60 source, which kill microorganisms throughout the pack without heat. The dishes do not become radioactive and can be used as soon as the sleeve is opened.

Sterility lasts only while the pack stays sealed and intact. Before use, look for tears in the sleeve and any expiry date printed on it, open it in a clean area such as a laminar flow cabinet or beside a Bunsen flame, and take out only the dishes needed. Fold and tape the sleeve shut to protect the rest.

Compared with non-sterile disposable Petri dishes, gamma sterile plates remove the doubt about whether contamination came from the dish itself. That matters when teaching aseptic technique and when testing environmental, water or food samples, where a stray colony changes the result.

Specifications

Sterilisation	Gamma irradiation after packing (per title)
Type	Single-use plastic Petri dishes with lids
Packing	Sealed sleeves; sterile until opened
Material	Clear plastic, usually polystyrene
Diameter and dishes per sleeve	Confirm at enquiry

Care & Handling

Inspect every sleeve for tears or broken seals; dishes from damaged packs are not used for sterile work.
Open sleeves in a biosafety cabinet or near a Bunsen flame and lift dishes by their edges.
Reseal part-used sleeves with tape and write the opening date on them.
Store unopened sleeves flat, dry and out of sunlight.

Applications

Pouring selective and general media for microbiology practicals
Settle plates for environmental monitoring in clean rooms or hospital training labs
Water and food sample counts where the dish must be ruled out as a contamination source
Teaching aseptic technique with a clean starting point for every student

Why Choose LabEquip

Microbiology labs, hospital training units and food-testing courses choose gamma sterile plates to save autoclave time and to be sure the dish is not the source of contamination. LabEquip lists them in the Biology Lab Products range; send media volumes and plate counts through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does gamma sterilisation make the Petri dishes radioactive?

No. Gamma rays pass through the dishes and kill microorganisms but leave no radioactivity in the plastic. The dishes are safe to handle and use straight away.

How long do gamma sterile dishes stay sterile?

They remain sterile while the sealed sleeve is intact. Once a sleeve is opened, the remaining dishes are exposed to room air, so reseal it, use the rest soon and keep doubtful ones for less demanding work. Follow any expiry date on the pack.

Why not simply autoclave plastic Petri dishes?

Polystyrene, the usual material, softens and deforms at autoclave temperatures. Gamma irradiation sterilises the dishes without heat, so they keep their shape and clarity.

Do I still need aseptic technique with sterile dishes?

Yes. The dish is sterile, but air, hands, media and the work surface are not. Lift the lid only as far as needed, work near a flame or in a cabinet and keep the plate covered as much as possible.

What is the difference between gamma sterile and EO sterile dishes?

Both are sterile. Ethylene oxide sterilisation uses a gas that must be aired out of the packs afterwards, while gamma irradiation leaves no residue. For routine microbiology either is suitable when the packing is intact.

Can gamma sterile dishes be used for cell culture?

Standard Petri dishes are not surface-treated for animal cell attachment, so adherent cells may spread poorly on them. For mammalian cells, use dishes, flasks or plates labelled as tissue-culture treated.

Last Updated: September 2026