Your Ultimate Guide To Choosing A Plastic Labware Brand

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A lab's scientists and the equipment they use are only as good as the results they produce. Plastic labware by a top ptfe products manufacturer, such as bottles, carboys, beakers, test tubes, graduated cylinders, and the like, is a popular substitute for borosilicate glass. This is because it is lightweight and shatterproof which is also the reason why aquariums with high-quality ceramic rings are manufactured with this material too.  

Using only the best plastic resin materials, eliminating unnecessary additives, and minimizing leachable and extractables are just a few of the best practices for a plastic labware brand in order to ensure superior performance.

Before purchasing plastic labware from any brand, it's critical to look into all of the company's features. Brands that are known for their quality products have features and benefits that are detailed below.

1.   Compounds That Can Be Extracted Or Dissolved

It is possible for some resin additives, such as lubricants, stabilizers, and flame retardants to be extracted or leached from the resin. It is possible for chemicals in the labware to be leached or extracted and then subsequently end up in the solutions it contains. 

Extensive time/temperature lab tests cause migration of extractables. Normal lab use exposes leachables to this risk. Extractables can be found even in glass labware. The concentrations of trace-element extractables in plastic are typically much lower than in glass.

Choose a labware brand that has a low leachable/extractable profile when shopping. Short-term assays and lab solutions stored in containers for a long time will be protected by this method.

2.   Minimal Additives In A Lab-Quality Resin

It's important to look for a plastic labware brand that uses noncytotoxic resins for its products, as resin quality is a good indicator of how well the plastic labware will perform on the benchtop. In addition to food and pharmaceutical contact, the resins must be safe to use. Commodity resins should be avoided by consumers. Regardless of how much money they save, they aren't worth it.

Resins with minimal additives are also used by high-quality brands. Heat stabilizers and antioxidants, for example, are required to make plastic moldable and beneficial in the production of products.

However, they should only be used in small amounts so as to reduce the likelihood of chemicals leaching out of the plastic into the laboratory solutions. Plasticizers and fillers, for example, should be avoided when making laboratory equipment.

3.   Providers Of Expertise

A novice to plastic labware may not be aware of the advantages and disadvantages associated with different resins, such as chemical resistance profiles and whether or not specific labware can be autoclaved. 

Choosing the right labware for a specific application may require some help. These and other technical issues necessitate the use of a labware company that provides excellent online and phone support.

4.   Support For validation

Customers should also be able to access all documentation related to the purity and quality of the resins provided by labware brands. If the resin supplier has registered the resins with DMF (Drug Master Files), the documentation will show this. 

Biocompatibility toxicity tests may also be included in this section. To demonstrate compliance with standards such as  European Pharmacopoeia monographs, USP Class VI, European Union food-contact regulations, and more.

5.   Laboratory Quality Control Measures

Toy lab equipment should not be used for serious work. There should be documentation certifying that graduated labware meets ASTM Class A or B (or ISO) and basic laboratory use requirements. 

High-quality, reusable plastic labware can last for years under normal laboratory conditions. To ensure the safety of your employees and the preservation of your precious research materials, chemical bottles and carboys must be leak-proof and have a long shelf life. A guarantee of 100% leak-proof is the minimum you should demand.

6.   What You Build With Is Of Utmost Importance

The additives and impurities in low-quality plastics can leach into your lab solutions in significant amounts. All pharmaceutical, laboratory, and food-grade plastics are selected to minimize additives and reduce the potential for leachable.

Thermo Scientific Labware should only be used in the laboratory if it is made of high-quality laboratory plastics by reputable manufacturers. Regulatory documentation should be available to back up the claims that the products are made from controlled, high-quality lab-grade materials.

Conclusion

Scientific success is dependent on the selection of the proper equipment and tools raging from ideal led light ideas to high-quality plastic materials. Some plastics are not designed to withstand the rigorous conditions of a laboratory. Some molding additives and commodity materials might actually pose a risk to your work by containing extractables that could compromise or even destroy your investigation. 

It's up to you to make an informed decision and go with the best!