Introduction

Disposable screw thread culture tubes play a vital role in laboratory operations. Their correct use not only effectively prevents sample contamination, cross-contamination and sample loss, but also ensures the accuracy and reliability of experimental data. Therefore, it is of great significance to master the standardized operation procedure to ensure the quality of experiments.

This guideline is applicable to the operation procedures of disposable screw thread culture tubes used in cell culture, microbiology experiments, clinical testing and other fields.

Preparation before Use

Adequate preparation prior to experimentation is a critical step in ensuring optimal performance of disposable screw thread culture tubes. Firstly, the integrity of the outer packaging needs to be carefully checked for any breaks or seal failures, which is essential to maintain the sterility of the tubes. Well-packaged tubes should be stored in a dry, clean environment to avoid moisture or contamination.

Sterilization status should not be overlooked. Disposable screw thread culture tubes produced by regular manufacturers are usually sterilized by gamma irradiation or ethylene oxide, and the package should have a clear sterilization mark and expiration date. Laboratory personnel should check the sterilization method and expiration date to ensure that the tubes are in the best condition for use.

The following factors should be considered when selecting specifications:

1. Volume selection: 15ml standard tubes can be selected for routine experiments, while 50ml size is recommended for large-scale culture.
2. Material characteristics: polypropylene material is high temperature resistant, suitable for high temperature sterilization requirements; polystyrene material is highly transparent, easy to observe.
3. Special requirements: For special experiments, such as low temperature storage, you need to choose low temperature resistant materials.

Laboratory personnel should select the most suitable culture tube model according to specific experimental conditions, taking into account centrifugal force requirements, chemical compatibility and other factors. It is recommended to establish a standard operating procedure for the selection of laboratory consumables to ensure the consistency and reproducibility of experiments.

Correct Procedure

1. Unpacking

• Unseal the culture tubes in a clean operating environment to ensure that there is no exogenous contamination during use.
• Wear sterile gloves or use sterile tweezers to remove the tubes when unpacking to avoid direct contact with critical areas.

2. Spiking operation

• It is strictly prohibited to touch the inner wall of the orifice or the inner cap of the lid during the filling process to prevent the introduction of contamination sources.
• Volume should be controlled when adding liquid samples and should not exceed the maximum scale to avoid spillage or poor sealing of samples during operation.

3. Sealing method

• The screw cap should be tightened after sample addition to ensure a complete seal. Sealing can be verified by gently causing to observe any leakage.
• Pay attention to moderate screwing force to avoid excessive force resulting in thread wear or breakage, which may affect reuse or sealing effect.

4. Marking and recording

• Use solvent-resistant, waterproof, peel-resistant lab labels or markers to accurately label sample information on clean, dry areas of the tube.
• Avoid using ordinary label paper or ink pens that are susceptible to moisture fading to prevent loss of information during storage.

Precautions in Use

1. Avoiding contamination

• Experimental operations should be carried out in a clean, dust-free environment, in an ultra-clean bench or biological safety cabinet is recommended.
• Reduce the time to uncap culture tubes, and the operation should be rapid and standardized to reduce the risk of exposure.
• Independent culture tubes must be used for each type of samples, and mixing is strictly prohibited to prevent cross-contamination and interference with experimental results.

2. Centrifugation and storage

• Before centrifugation, be sure to make sure that the screw cap is screwed on tightly to prevent the sample from leaking; also make a good symmetrical leveling in the centrifuge to avoid mechanical imbalance.
• When storing, the tubes should be placed in an upright position to avoid leakage caused by horizontal placement. Avoid placing the tubes in high temperature, bright light or humid environment to avoid affecting the stability of the samples and the performance of the tubes.

3. Special sample handling

• For samples containing volatile, organic solvents or strongly corrosive substances, a specialized model with chemical resistance should be used.
• For cryopreservation, use cryopreservation tubes that are resistant to low temperatures; ordinary disposable culture tubes may become brittle or leak at very low temperatures.

What to Do After Use

1. Biosafety processing

• Culture tubes containing infectious, potentially pathogenic or high-risk biological samples must be autoclaved or inactivated with an effective disinfectant in accordance with laboratory biosafety level requirements before they are discarded as waste.
• The discarded culture tubes should be put into the designated “bio-contaminated plastic” waste bin according to the laboratory’s hazardous waste classification and management system, and should not be mixed with ordinary garbage for disposal.

2. Environmental recommendations

• Prioritize culture tubes made of recyclable materials and participate in a centralized recycling and environmental disposal program for consumables in laboratories where conditions permit.
• Reduce unnecessary waste of consumables, advocate the rational use of disposables under the premise of safety, and promote the construction of green laboratories.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I do if I can’t tighten the screw-in cap?

First check that the threads are properly aligned and that there are no foreign objects stuck in the threads. Do not force the threads to unscrew as this may damage the orifice or cap. If it still fails to seal, the culture tube should be replaced with a new one.

2. Can disposable culture tubes be reused?

Repeated use is not recommended. The sealing and sterility of disposable culture tubes will not be guaranteed after use, and reuse may result in contamination, biased results, or tube damage.

3. What should I do if I have a leak when centrifuging?

Check that the lid is screwed on tightly and seals well, and verify that the culture tubes have been properly leveled prior to centrifugation. Avoid using more than the maximum centrifugal speed for which the tubes are calibrated. If necessary, select a specialized pressure-resistant centrifuge tube as an alternative.

Conclusion

The standardized use of disposable screw thread culture tubes is a critical step to ensure the accuracy of experimental results, sample safety and operational reliability. Strict adherence to operational standards and biosafety requirements, whether in sample collection, handling, storage or disposal, is the basic guarantee for improving experimental quality and reducing risks.

It is recommended that lab technicians use high-quality culture tubes with good sealing, chemical resistance and applicable temperature range according to their specific experimental needs, in order to improve the efficiency of experiments and realize the sustainable management of laboratory resources.