Globe Scientific 13mm Blue Plug Cap for Beckman IDS Specimen Automation Track — 2nd Generation, 500/Bag (5538)

Globe Scientific 13mm Blue Plug Cap (5538) is a polyethylene plug cap designed specifically for the Beckman Coulter IDS Specimen Automation Track (2nd Generation). These caps seat into 13mm blood collection tubes to provide a secure closure during automated specimen transport along the IDS track system. Packaged 500 per bag for high-volume pre-analytical processing environments.

Beckman Coulter IDS Track Compatibility

The Beckman Coulter IDS (Intelligent Document System) Specimen Automation Track routes blood collection tubes from receiving through centrifugation, decapping, aliquoting, and storage. Each tube requires a correctly dimensioned plug cap for the track's gripping and transport mechanisms to function without jams or misfeeds. This 13mm cap is engineered to match the dimensional and material specifications required by the 2nd generation IDS track — providing reliable grip during transport, smooth passage through switching junctions, and consistent behavior at automated decapping stations.

Why Third-Party Caps Matter for Lab Budgets

Automation consumables are a recurring cost that scales directly with specimen volume. A mid-sized hospital laboratory processing 500 to 1,000 specimens per day consumes thousands of plug caps weekly. Globe Scientific third-party compatible caps deliver the same dimensional precision and material performance as OEM caps at below retail pricing. The polyethylene construction provides the flexibility needed for consistent seating into tube openings and reliable removal by automated decapping stations — the two mechanical interactions that determine whether a cap works on the IDS track.

Blue Color Coding

Blue is one of the standard colors used in specimen processing workflow color-coding schemes. Different cap colors can be assigned to tube types, test panels, processing priorities, or shifts. Maintaining consistent color throughout the automation line — from collection through transport to storage — reduces misidentification errors during high-volume processing.

Specifications

• SKU: 5538

• Cap Diameter: 13mm

• Color: Blue

• Material: Polyethylene (PE)

• Packaging: 500 per bag

• Compatibility: Beckman Coulter IDS Specimen Automation Track (2nd Generation)

• Sterility: Non-sterile

• Country of Origin: China

• Weight: 1.2 lbs per bag