Information on on test tubes In laboratory glassware, test tubes are the most widely used tools. Therefore, they play a key role. What is a test tube? A test tube is a glass or plastic cylinder that comes in various sizes and edges. The test tube is mainly used for blends or chemical transformations using […]
In laboratory glassware, test tubes are the most widely used tools. Therefore, they play a key role.
A test tube is a glass or plastic cylinder that comes in various sizes and edges. The test tube is mainly used for blends or chemical transformations using tiny quantities of products.
However, chemical reactions in test tubes might be dangerous, and precautions must be taken beforehand. Appropriate safety measures and handling precautions should be taken before use.
The glass tube offers the unique advantage of not “whitening”. The plastic tube, on the other hand, suffers more from the ravages of time and is not scratch resistant. Still, it is as transparent and sturdy as the glass test tube, and easier to handle. Some biologists have observed that the polypropylene used in the composition of the test tube was not chemically stable, and released molecules resulting in the inhibition of a human protein.
Chemistry: test tubes are widely used by chemists in laboratories to treat chemicals, especially for experiments and qualitative tests (lab glass tube). Their spherical bottoms and vertical sides reduce the loss of mass during pouring, make them easier to wash and allow an optimal monitoring of the contents. The long, narrow neck slows down the spread of gases into the environment.
Medicine: in clinical medicine, they are used with air removed. They are called vacutainers are used to collect and retain samples of physiological fluids such as blood, urine, pus and synovial fluid. These glass tubes are usually sealed with a rubber stopper and often have a specific additive placed in the tube, with the color of the stopper indicating the additive. For example, a blue stopper tube is a 5-ml test tube containing sodium citrate as an anticoagulant, used to collect blood for coagulation and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase tests. The small bottles used in medicine may have a snap-top (also called hinge) molded into the flask.
Biology: culture tubes are used in biology and related sciences for the manipulation and cultivation of all kinds of living organisms, such as molds, bacteria, seedlings, plant cuttings, etc. Some culture tube racks are designed to hold the test tubes in a horizontal position to maximize the area of the culture medium in the interior.
Culture tubes for biology are generally made of transparent plastic (such as polystyrene or polypropylene) by molding and injection, and are often disposed of after use. Some sources consider that the presence of a lip distinguishes a test tube from a culture tube.
Other uses: test tubes are sometimes used as flower vases, glassware for some weak plans, or spice containers.
It all depends on the use you want to make of it. Obviously, you need to consider the price. It is best to avoid choosing low-end test tubes to avoid any disappointment. Prefer tubes with straight edges, which are more flexible. Tubes with raised edges are particularly handy since they allow a slight inclination of the receptacle once placed.
The thorough cleaning and rinsing of glass tubes between each use are vital otherwise distorted results will be obtained in future experiments. The first step is to rinse immediately after use. Then, effective washing only requires a brush and hot soapy water. More stubborn stains can be removed with acetone.
For cloudy glassware or tubes that contain stubborn organic material, chromic acid can be used while wearing protective clothing. Boiling glassware in a weak solution of sodium carbonate removes any grease residues. At Renes Glastechniek BV we have a wide variety of test tubes for sale.
In appearance, a holder is similar to a large peg with a self-closing spring. They are commonly made from steel or plastic and are designed to hold tubes that are being heated or contain potentially dangerous chemicals or bacterium. They should be placed approximately 3cm from the top of the tube and always held with the open end away from the user or other lab workers.
Racks are designed to hold multiple test tubes in upright positions during experiments or for cleaning, drying, transporting and storing them. They come in a variety of sizes with most designs holding 8, 10 or 12 tubes and are generally made of wood, stainless steel or plastic. They can either be free-standing or stackable.
