Polycarbonate is substantially tougher than ABS or polystyrene — it withstands drops, rough handling, and the freeze-thaw cycles that crack lesser materials when slide boxes are moved between bench, cold room, and -80°C freezer storage. The Heathrow Scientific Polycarbonate Microscope Slide Boxes are rated to -80°C, allowing slides to be stored in ultra-low temperature freezers for long-term archival preservation of staining integrity, particularly for immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry slides where fading occurs at ambient temperature.
Two sizes: the 25-place 120316 (blue, friction-fit closure, $15) for active-use bench boxes and transport, and the 100-place HS15988H (purple, stainless steel clasp closure, $33) for higher-capacity archival storage. Both are polycarbonate with -80°C rating.
Features and Benefits
-80°C Temperature Rating: Suitable for ultra-low temperature freezer storage — materials maintain structural integrity and closure function at -80°C, allowing archived slide collections to be stored at cryogenic temperatures without box cracking or failure.
Polycarbonate Construction: Polycarbonate is harder and more impact-resistant than ABS or polystyrene — survives drops and rough handling in active lab use without cracking. The material choice is visible and tactile: polycarbonate slide boxes feel substantially more robust than foam-lined alternatives.
25-Place Friction-Fit (120316, Blue, $15): Compact 25-slide format with friction-fit closure — no hardware to lose, easy single-hand opening. Blue color for quick identification.
100-Place Stainless Steel Clasp (HS15988H, Purple, $33): High-capacity 100-slide format with a stainless steel clasp that secures the box during transport and freezer storage — prevents accidental opening and slide loss in high-slide-count archival collections.
Compatible with Standard 25×75 mm Microscope Slides: Holds standard 1 × 3 in (25 × 75 mm) microscope slides — the universal format for clinical, research, and educational use.
Replacement Inventory Cards Available: Compatible with Heathrow 120740 (25-place) and 120741 (100-place) replacement inventory cards for slide cataloging.
Specifications
| Property | 120316 (25-Place) | HS15988H (100-Place) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 25 Slides | 100 Slides |
| Material | Polycarbonate | |
| Low Temp Rating | -80°C | |
| Closure | Friction Fit | Stainless Steel Clasp |
| Color | Blue | Purple |
| Slide Format | Standard 25 × 75 mm (1 × 3 in) | |
| Quantity | 1 Each | |
| Price | $15 | $33 |
Laboratory Applications
-80°C freezer archival storage of immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry slides where fading at room temperature degrades stored staining
Long-term pathology specimen archival in clinical and reference labs where slide collections are maintained for regulatory, legal, or research purposes
Active-use transport boxes for slide transport between lab, clinic, and shared microscopy facilities where drop resistance is more important than weight
Teaching collections where high-use slides need a durable box that survives repeated student handling without cracking
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose polycarbonate over foam-lined ABS boxes?
Polycarbonate boxes are harder, more impact-resistant, and rated to -80°C — ABS boxes are not. Choose polycarbonate when you need ultra-low temperature storage capability or when drop resistance is a priority. Foam-lined ABS boxes (HS15989/HS15994 series) provide better individual slide cushioning within the box, making them better for transport of precious or fragile slides where inter-slide contact protection matters more than box wall impact resistance.
Can I use these boxes in a cryogenic dewar with liquid nitrogen?
The -80°C rating covers standard ultra-low temperature freezer use. Liquid nitrogen contact (-196°C) exceeds the rated temperature — polycarbonate becomes brittle well below -80°C. For liquid nitrogen storage, use slide boxes specifically rated for cryogenic temperatures.
Do the inventory cards fit both box sizes?
120740 replacement cards (Pack of 10) fit the 25-place box series. 120741 replacement cards fit the 100-place box series. Sold separately.
Quality Assurance
Heathrow Scientific polycarbonate microscope slide boxes are manufactured from polycarbonate resin tested for structural integrity at -80°C. Closure mechanisms (friction fit and stainless steel clasp) are verified for secure operation at low temperatures. Compatible with standard 25 × 75 mm microscope slides.
Ordering
Authorized VEE GEE Scientific dealer, ships from USA inventory. Serving academic, government, and research laboratories nationwide.
