Bulky tube racks take up valuable bench and storage space — and flimsy designs flex, tip, and crack under autoclave conditions. The Heathrow Scientific Fold & Snap Test Tube Rack solves both problems at once. It ships completely flat in a single piece and snaps into its rigid 90-well configuration in seconds without tools. Once assembled, the polypropylene frame holds its shape through repeated autoclave cycles and withstands full immersion in water baths — making it one of the most space-efficient, versatile racks available for 13mm tube workflows.
Designed for 5–10 mL tubes with 13mm well diameter, each rack holds 90 tubes in a compact 9.6 × 4.1 × 2.4 in footprint. The open-well design ensures uniform temperature exposure during incubations. Available in Blue, White, Red, and Yellow for color-coded sample organization across experiments or users.
Features and Benefits
Flat-Pack Storage and Shipping: Ships and stores as a single flat polypropylene sheet — dramatically reduces storage volume. Snap together on demand in seconds, no tools required.
Autoclavable Polypropylene: Withstands standard autoclave cycles at 121°C — sterilize between uses without warping, cracking, or discoloration.
Water Bath Compatible: Stable base design prevents tipping during temperature-controlled incubations — holds all 90 tubes upright in full water bath immersion.
Open Well Design for Uniform Incubation: Exposed tube sides allow consistent heat and gas exchange — samples across all 90 positions heat and cool at the same rate.
4 Colors for Sample Tracking: Blue, White, Red, and Yellow allow different experiments, sample sets, or users to each use a designated color — eliminates mix-ups in shared labs.
90-Place High Capacity: Holds 90 × 13mm tubes in a 9.6 × 4.1 in footprint — maximizes bench utilization during high-throughput workflows without crowding the workspace.
Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU Series | HS243073B, HS243073W, HS243073R, HS243073Y |
| Brand | Heathrow Scientific |
| Material | Polypropylene |
| Number of Wells | 90 |
| Well Diameter | 13 mm |
| Compatible Tube Size | 5–10 mL |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 9.6 x 4.1 x 2.4 in (24.5 x 10.5 x 6.3 cm) |
| Quantity | 1 Each |
| Autoclavable | Yes |
| Colors Available | Blue, White, Red, Yellow |
| Weight | 0.35 lb (0.16 kg) |
| Country of Origin | China |
Laboratory Applications
Microbiology and cell culture — benchtop holding of 5–10 mL culture tubes during inoculation, incubation, and sampling steps
Water bath incubations requiring a stable, submersible rack that holds tubes fully upright at temperature without tipping
Clinical and diagnostic labs using color-coded rack assignment by sample type or patient batch to prevent cross-sample contamination
Teaching and training labs needing economical, high-capacity tube organization that can be autoclaved between student sessions
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tubes fit the HS243073 Fold & Snap rack?
This rack is designed for 13mm diameter tubes in the 5–10 mL range — standard 10 mL glass culture tubes, 5 mL round-bottom tubes, and similar 13mm-diameter labware fit securely in all 90 wells.
Can this rack be used fully submerged in a water bath?
Yes. The stable polypropylene base and open-well construction make this rack fully compatible with water bath use. Water circulates freely around tubes for uniform heating across all 90 positions.
How does the flat-pack assembly work?
The rack ships as a single flat polypropylene sheet. Fold along the pre-scored lines and snap the connecting tabs into place — the assembled rack locks rigidly and does not flex during use. No tools required.
Is this rack autoclavable?
Yes. Polypropylene withstands standard autoclave conditions at 121°C for 20 minutes. The rack can be sterilized between experiments or between users without degradation to the snap joints or well geometry.
Quality Assurance
Heathrow Scientific manufactures this tube rack from virgin polypropylene for consistent chemical resistance and structural integrity. Each rack is designed to maintain well-diameter consistency across all 90 positions and stable assembly geometry through repeated autoclave and water bath cycles.
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.