16 mL Round-Bottom PS Test Tubes — Sterile, Open Top, 17 × 100 mm (222-2070-010) | 25/Bag
These 16 mL polystyrene round-bottom test tubes measure 17 × 100 mm and are supplied sterile in 25/Bag packaging for culture, sample pooling, serology, and preparation workflows where a standard 5–8 mL tube is too small but a 15 mL conical tube is unnecessary. The open-top design provides unrestricted pipette access from above and accepts a wide range of separately sourced stoppers or caps. Optical clarity through the polystyrene wall allows direct visual assessment of agglutination, turbidity, and cell pellet patterns without removing samples from the tube.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Part Number (MPN) | 222-2070-010 |
| Capacity | 16 mL |
| Dimensions | 17 × 100 mm |
| Geometry | Round Bottom |
| Material | Polystyrene (PS) |
| Color | Natural (clear) |
| Closure | Open Top — use a compatible stopper or separate cap |
| Sterility | Sterile |
| Pack Size | 25/Bag |
| BPA / Phthalate / Latex | BPA-Free, Phthalate-Free, Latex-Free |
| Country of Origin | USA |
Applications
- Large-volume cell culture, including roller tube incubation, where the 16 mL round-bottom format provides adequate headspace and volume
- Sample pooling and manual dilution at the 15–16 mL scale, with the round bottom promoting complete mixing
- High-volume tube agglutination and serological panels requiring more reagent volume than smaller formats allow
- Centrifugation for clinical or urinalysis sediment preparation — round-bottom geometry produces a compact, uniform pellet; verify rotor adapter compatibility for 17 × 100 mm tubes before use
- Buffer and reagent preparation where PS optical clarity enables direct visual monitoring of solution turbidity or color
- Fluorescence-based tube assays (e.g., flow cytometry staining, FITC/PE labeling) that benefit from the low autofluorescence of polystyrene
- Sample collection and storage when paired with a separately sourced compatible stopper
Chemical Resistance
| Reagent / Condition | Compatibility |
|---|---|
| Aqueous buffers / saline (pH 4–10) | Excellent |
| Serum, plasma, whole blood | Excellent |
| Cell culture media (RPMI, DMEM) | Excellent |
| Formalin (10% NBF) | Excellent |
| Flow cytometry reagents (FITC, PE) | Excellent — PS has low autofluorescence |
| DMSO (<1%) | Good — compatible at standard cryoprotectant concentrations |
| Methanol (<100%) | Limited — short-term contact only; prolonged exposure causes crazing |
| Acetone / chloroform | Not Compatible — dissolves PS; do not use |
| Alcohols >70% | Not Recommended |
Quality & Procurement
Made in USA, these Caplugs® Evergreen test tubes are manufactured from FDA-compliant, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and latex-free polystyrene resin. LabSupplies.com is an authorized Caplugs® Evergreen dealer and ships from USA inventory, typically the same business day for stocking items, with tiered pricing available for high-volume institutional, clinical, and grant-funded purchasing programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these tubes sterile straight out of the bag?
Yes — these tubes are sterile as supplied and are packaged to maintain sterility until opened, making them suitable for cell culture, sterile sample collection, and other aseptic workflows.
What cap or stopper fits this open-top tube?
The tubes ship without a closure. You will need to source a compatible stopper or screw cap separately that fits the 17 mm rim diameter. Contact our team for recommendations if you need a matched closure option.
Can these tubes be centrifuged?
Yes, the round-bottom geometry is well suited to centrifugation for sediment or pellet preparation. Always verify that your centrifuge rotor accepts 17 × 100 mm tubes, and use appropriate adapters as needed.
Are these tubes safe to use with acetone, chloroform, or high-concentration alcohols?
No — polystyrene is not compatible with acetone, chloroform, or alcohols above 70%. For workflows involving these solvents, a polypropylene tube is recommended instead.