Microscope Slide Box, Polypropylene

Polypropylene Microscope Slide Box — Secure Latch-Lock Storage for 25 and 100 Slides

The Heathrow Scientific Polypropylene Microscope Slide Box offers durable, chemically-resistant storage for standard 25 x 75mm microscope slides in both 25-place and 100-place configurations. Constructed from polypropylene for long-term resistance to routine laboratory disinfectants and cleaning solutions, these boxes feature a positive latch-lock closure that secures slides during transport and prevents accidental opening. Numbered slot positions with molded inventory labeling areas allow organized, systematic management of slide collections in research, clinical, and educational settings.

Features & Benefits

• Polypropylene construction: Chemical resistance to the dilute bleach, 70% ethanol, and quaternary ammonium disinfectants used for bench and equipment decontamination in clinical and research labs.
• Positive latch-lock closure: A secure latch mechanism holds the box firmly closed during transit between workstations or when moved in transport containers, preventing lid separation that could result in slide damage or loss.
• Numbered slot positions: Molded slot numbers correspond directly to a removable slide inventory card, allowing precise location tracking in collections of any size without relying on labels that can peel or fade.
• Pre-molded Project and Date labeling areas: Dedicated external label zones provide consistent placement for adhesive labels or permanent marker, reducing label crowding and improving visual identification in storage.
• Stackable with molded feet: Raised feet create a stable interlock when boxes are stacked, preventing sliding on bench surfaces or in cabinet drawers and reducing the risk of slide damage from tipping or jostling.
• Hinged lid: Lid remains attached during use, eliminating the need to hold or place the lid separately when accessing slides at the bench.
• Color-coded options: Available in Blue, Red, and White for visual differentiation of projects, specimen types, or processing stages in multi-user environments.

Specifications

Applications

Polypropylene slide boxes are the workhorse storage solution in high-throughput histology and pathology laboratories where large numbers of slides move through multiple processing steps. The latch-lock closure makes them suitable for organizing H&E stained sections during same-day reading, special stains batches awaiting coverslipping, and IHC runs in progress. In clinical microbiology, these boxes hold Gram stain slides, AFB smears, and wet preparation slides through the processing and reading workflow. Teaching labs use the color-coding system to separate demonstration sets from student practice slides, while the numbered inventory card enables instructors to track the condition of each slide across multiple class uses. Research groups generating large numbers of serial tissue sections during animal study terminal collection use the 100-place boxes to batch slides by animal ID, tissue type, or staining protocol for batch scanning on digital pathology platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the polypropylene slide box and the premium cork-lined slide box?

The polypropylene slide box features a hard PP interior without cork lining, making it ideal for routine laboratory use and bench organization where slides are accessed frequently. The premium cork-lined version adds natural cork padding that cushions slides against vibration and prevents edge chipping — preferred for archival storage, long-distance transport, and the storage of irreplaceable permanent preparations. Both accept standard 25 x 75mm slides.

Can the polypropylene slide box be decontaminated with bleach or ethanol?

Yes. Polypropylene resists dilute sodium hypochlorite bleach solutions (up to 10%), 70% isopropyl or ethyl alcohol, and quaternary ammonium disinfectants. For surface decontamination, wipe the interior and exterior with a disinfectant-moistened cloth and allow to air dry before reloading slides. Avoid prolonged soaking in concentrated bleach or strong oxidizers, which can cause surface whitening and brittleness over repeated exposures.

Does the polypropylene slide box include an inventory sheet?

Yes. Each box includes a removable slide inventory card with numbered positions corresponding to the molded slot numbers inside the box. The card can be removed for desktop recording and re-inserted for storage alongside the slides. The card has fields for specimen identification, stain type, preparation date, and other relevant annotations to support organized collection management.

Volume Discounts

LabSupplies.com offers below retail pricing with volume discounts available. As an authorized Heathrow Scientific dealer, we ship directly from USA inventory.