What Is a Test Tube Used For? Explained with Real-Life Examples

When conducting a chemical reaction in a lab, researchers prefer to use a small amount of sample initially. To handle these samples, small laboratory tools like test tubes are used. These are effective as they come in different sizes and have glass or plastic-based construction both of which offer varying benefits. But what is a test tube used for? Are test tubes reusable?

In this article, let us address the question of what is a test tube used for in different healthcare settings. Additionally, some well-known test or sample tube brands are listed below for the reader’s convenience.

What is a Test Tube?

A test tube is a cylindrical lab tool that has one end open and the other one closed to create a U-shaped bottom. These are used to hold the samples of blood, bodily fluids, microbes, chemical agents, etc., and store them. While learning about what is a test tube used for, it is important to remember that these items are constructed using either glass or plastic both of which have their pros and cons.

What is a Test Tube Used for?

Test tubes are employed to serve multiple purposes within a laboratory or industry. Apart from holding and storing the sample, the test tubes also allow for mixing as well as heating the contents. In addition, some test tubes can also be subjected to centrifugation as well. Some of these uses have been detailed as follows:

Storage of Samples

Test tubes are often employed for the storage of biological as well as chemical samples. As these are compact in size and highly durable, storing a sample in a test tube is the easiest way to do so.

Conduction of Chemical Reactions

Another use of test tubes is that they can hold the chemical agents and conduct a chemical reaction. However, while learning about what is a test tube used for, it is essential to check their suitability for chemical reactions. This is because glass-based test tubes allow most chemical reactions to occur while plastic ones might not be suitable for acidic or alkaline reactions.

Microbial Culture

In microbiology labs, test tubes are often employed for growing bacterial and fungal cultures. For this purpose, nutrient media is added into the test tubes that help the microbes to grow.

Heating and Cooling Solutions

Test tubes are also used for heating or cooling a sample. This is because these are made up of heat-resistant glass that allows using a test tube over an open flame as well. In addition, while learning about what is a test tube used for, keep in mind that heating can be followed by instant cooling as the glass can easily tolerate temperature shifts.

Centrifugation

Test tubes are also employed for processes like centrifugation. In this process, the test tube is used to hold the sample throughout the process. However, while learning about what is a test tube used for, keep in mind that glass test tubes might not be a good choice for centrifugation. Rather, capped plastic test tubes are used for this purpose.

Observation of Reactions

Another advantage that can be achieved by using test tubes is the observation of the chemical reactions being conducted in them. The transparent construction material of the test tubes allows the visualization of the color changes as well as the precipitation that forms when two or more chemical agents chemically combine.

Using a Test Tube

Test tubes are used in all kinds of areas ranging from schools to research laboratories. Some of these are as follows:

Chemical Laboratories

While learning about what is a test tube used for, it is also important to know about their importance in terms of usage in chemical labs. All of the processes mentioned above are a daily occurrence within laboratories. For this, test tubes are often employed.

Pharmaceutical Industries

The research and development department in pharmaceutical industries works on drug development and testing. New chemical entities are developed and worked on to find the solutions to the existing health-related problems. These reactions often use test tubes.

Educational Uses

While learning about what is a test tube used for, keep in mind that test tubes are frequently employed in schools and universities for conducting laboratory procedures to teach the students basic as well as advanced scientific concepts.

Biological Research Centers

Biological research involves handling different solutions as well as cultural media. These are often contained in test tubes.

Food Industry

While learning about what is a test tube used for, it is important to learn that the analysis of the food samples is also done using the test tubes.

Reusing a Test Tube

While learning about what is a test tube used for, it is often asked if these lab tools are reusable. The glass test tubes are, in fact, reusable. These can be washed and sterilized after an experiment. Once completely dried, these are ready to be used again.

However, plastic test tubes are sometimes disposable. This eliminates the need to clean them afterward. If the plastic-based test tubes are constructed using polypropylene, these can be reused as well after cleaning as the material is sturdy and durable.

Test Tubes at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications

Test tubes are the medical and laboratory tools that are used to hold and store the samples. These are essential as different sizes of the test tubes can be used for holding varying volumes of the sample. These can be as small as a 5 ml capacity and can exceed up to 50 ml.

When it comes to learning about what is a test tube used for, it is also essential to look into some of the products that many brands manufacture. Some of these well-known brands are also available at Health Supply 770 and have been detailed below along with their features and purchase links:

Greiner Bio 454493P Vacuette Blood Collection Tubes W/ LH, 13×75,3mL 1200CS

US$172.99

Product Details

Greiner Bio 454493P vacuette blood collection tubes are used for blood sample collection in medical laboratories. The additive in these test tubes is Lithium Heparin which comes pre-filled to help prevent the blood sample from clotting that could lead to its damage.

Moreover, these Greiner Bio 454493P vacuette blood collection tubes are also employed for checking the acidity as well as the alkalinity of the samples. These can also be employed for checking the level of oxygen as well as carbon dioxide in the blood sample.

Furthermore, while learning about what is a test tube used for, it is important to keep in mind that these Greiner Bio 454493P vacuette blood collection tubes can also be employed for checking the concentration of minerals or electrolytes in the body. In addition, an estimation of the hormone levels of a person can also be made.

Greiner Bio-One 456279: 6ML K2 EDTA Blood Collection Tube (Case of 24 Boxes of 50)

US$136.88

Product Details

Greiner Bio-One 456279: 6ML K2 EDTA blood collection tubes come with the K2 EDTA additive. The construction material of the product is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which is clear plastic. This way, the product remains transparent and its contents can be visualized with ease. For easy identification of these test tubes, the cap of the product is made in pink color and has a pink ring.

While learning about what is a test tube used for, the size of the test tube is also an essential factor. In this regard, these Greiner Bio-One 456279: 6ML K2 EDTA blood collection tubes have a dimension of 13 x 100 mm. This size is suitable for procedures like Rh typing, antibody screening, cell grouping, etc. which are essential in clinical laboratories.

Moreover, these Greiner Bio-One 456279: 6ML K2 EDTA blood collection tubes are also suitable for hematological and immunohematology testing. As for the structure, these test tubes have a round bottom with a non-ridged structure.

CORNING 430055 15mL Sterile Centrifuge Tubes with Plug Seal Cap

US$248.88

Product Details

CORNING 430055 15 mL sterile centrifuge tubes come with plug seal caps. These are polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based products which is a clear and transparent construction material. In addition, keep in mind that, while learning what is a test tube used for, the tubes also have graduations that make it easy for the users to estimate the volume of the sample added to them.

Moreover, to further visualize the volume of the sample, these CORNING 430055 15 mL sterile centrifuge tubes come with a large white marking spot. Furthermore, these CORNING 430055 15 mL sterile centrifuge tubes are suitable for samples that are prone to contamination by exposure to the environment as their plug seal cap keeps them safe. The product is also certified non-pyrogenic as well as RNase-/DNase-free.

CORNING 352098 Falcon 50mL Polypropylene Conical Centrifuge Tubes

US$224.88

Product Details

CORNING 352098 Falcon 50 mL polypropylene conical centrifuge tubes are often employed in healthcare facilities and other laboratories due to their suitability for storing large volumes of samples. The blue screw cap makes sure that the sample in the tube remains free from contaminants.

Moreover, these CORNING 352098 Falcon 50 mL polypropylene conical centrifuge tubes are constructed with high-quality polypropylene (PP) plastic that is not only transparent but also highly resistant to a variety of chemical agents.

While learning about what is a test tube used for, it is important to check for which processes the product is suitable for. In the case of these CORNING 352098 Falcon 50 mL polypropylene conical centrifuge tubes can be employed for mixing, storage, as well as centrifugation of the collected samples during molecular biological, biochemical, as well as cell culture techniques.

CORNING 352097 Falcon 15mL Sterile Centrifuge Tubes with Dome Seal Screw Cap

US$222.88

Product Details

CORNING 352097 Falcon 15 mL sterile centrifuge tubes are another reliable product when it comes to test tubes. These are sterile products that can hold and store samples until they are tested. While learning about what is a test tube used for, it is important to learn the product suitability for the processes it is to be employed for. In the case of these CORNING 352097 Falcon 15 mL sterile centrifuge tubes, the product can be easily subjected to high-speed centrifugation.

Moreover, the dome-seal screw caps are designed to protect the contents of these tubes from spilling while the high-speed centrifugal process is being conducted. Furthermore, these sterile centrifuge tubes have a high-quality polypropylene (PP)-based construction.

*Note: The prices of these items mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary over time.

The products mentioned in this article while learning about what is a test tube used for, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of medical and laboratory supplies.

Conclusion

Test tubes are the laboratory tools that are used for holding and storing the samples in laboratories. These are often employed for collecting blood and bodily fluid samples as well which are later tested for different purposes. These test tubes are also employed in food industries, pharmaceutical labs, etc. as they have vast applications.

While learning about what is a test tube used for, keep in mind that these products have vast applications in almost all kinds of laboratories. Their construction is glass or plastic-based. Both of these types of test tubes have different uses and have their pros and cons.

Considering their importance, test tubes should be kept in bulk in all healthcare facilities including hospitals, clinics, as well as veterinary facilities. For purchasing different types of test tubes, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.