Heathrow Scientific Polycarbonate Microscope Slide Box -80°C - 25 or 100-Place

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

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.

Academic and Institutional Pricing

LabSupplies.com offers tiered quantity pricing for educational institutions, veterinary clinics, and research organizations. As an authorized VEE GEE Scientific dealer, we ship directly from USA inventory.