Heathrow Scientific 100-Well Hinged Microtube Storage Box - 120042 Series | One-Handed Opening, -80°C Rated

Opening and closing a separate lid while juggling tubes, a pipette, and a notebook is a recipe for dropped samples. The Heathrow Scientific 100-Well Hinged Microtube Storage Box solves the problem with an integrated hinged lid that opens and closes with one hand, freeing the other to load or retrieve tubes. The 10 × 10 polypropylene grid holds up to 100 microcentrifuge tubes (1.5 mL or 2.0 mL) and standard cryogenic vials, each positioned within an alphanumeric coordinate system for traceable storage. Rated to −80 °C and fully autoclavable, the hinged box transitions between freezer, water bath, and benchtop without swapping lids or risking mismatched covers. Choose Natural for clean-room visibility, Black for light-sensitive samples, or the Assorted pack for instant multi-color organization across projects.

Features and Benefits

• Integrated Hinged Lid: Attached lid opens to a full 180° and snaps shut securely — eliminates lost or mismatched covers and enables one-handed operation during sample loading.

• 100-Well Capacity (10 × 10 Grid): Holds up to 100 microcentrifuge tubes (1.5 mL / 2.0 mL) or cryogenic vials, maximizing tube density per freezer shelf position.

• Polypropylene Construction: Chemical-resistant, impact-tough polypropylene resists cracking through repeated freeze-thaw cycles and tolerates common lab solvents and dilute acids.

• Cryogenic-Rated to −80 °C: Performs reliably in ultra-low temperature mechanical freezers and dry-ice chests without becoming brittle or losing hinge integrity.

• Autoclavable (121 °C): Withstands standard autoclave cycles for thorough decontamination, supporting reuse in BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories.

• Alphanumeric Coordinate Grid: Molded row and column identifiers allow precise cross-referencing with LIMS entries and lab notebooks, reducing sample retrieval errors.

• Black Option for Light-Sensitive Samples: The opaque black variant shields photosensitive reagents and fluorescent-labeled specimens from ambient light during short-term benchtop handling.

Specifications

Laboratory Applications

• High-throughput sample processing where the hinged lid allows rapid one-handed tube access while the other hand manages pipettes or labeling tools

• Long-term biobank storage at −80 °C with traceable alphanumeric positioning for clinical trial specimens and archived patient samples

• Light-sensitive assay preparation using the black variant to protect fluorescent dyes, light-reactive reagents, and photo-labile compounds during benchtop work

• Multi-user shared freezer environments where the assorted color pack provides each researcher an easily identified box without additional labeling

• Field collection and transport — the hinged lid stays attached, preventing lid loss during repeated opening and closing at remote collection sites

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the advantage of the hinged lid over a separate snap-on lid?
The hinged lid cannot be lost, mismatched, or accidentally placed on the wrong box. It opens to 180° for full access and closes with a secure snap, making it faster to use when processing many tubes in sequence.

Does the hinge hold up at −80 °C?
Yes. The polypropylene living hinge retains flexibility at −80 °C and will not crack or snap during normal opening and closing. Avoid forcing the hinge open on a deeply frozen box — allow 15–30 seconds at room temperature for the hinge to regain full flexibility.

What colors are in the Assorted pack?
The Assorted option (SKU 120044) includes one box each in Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Pink — six distinct colors in a pack of 5 (one color is duplicated based on availability).

Can I use the black box for light-sensitive fluorescent samples?
The opaque black polypropylene blocks visible light, making it suitable for short-term benchtop shielding of fluorescent-labeled tubes. For extended UV protection during storage, pair it with a light-blocking freezer rack or wrap.

Quality Assurance

Heathrow Scientific products are designed and tested to meet the rigorous demands of clinical, research, and educational laboratories worldwide. Each hinged storage box undergoes hinge-flex and dimensional inspection to ensure consistent snap closure and lid alignment across every production lot.

Academic and Institutional Pricing

LabSupplies.com offers tiered quantity pricing for academic and research institutions. As an authorized dealer, we ship directly from USA inventory.