Midicentrifuge Tubes (5ml & 10ml)

What Are Midicentrifuge Tubes (5 mL and 10 mL)?

Midicentrifuge tubes are polypropylene conical tubes available in 5 mL and 10 mL capacities, designed for laboratory workflows that require sample volumes larger than standard microtubes but smaller than traditional 15 mL conical tubes. These tubes provide an efficient solution for intermediate-volume applications and are commonly used in cell culture, protein purification, gradient fraction collection, virus concentration, and clinical specimen processing.

By filling the gap between 2 mL microcentrifuge tubes and 15 mL conical tubes, midi tubes help optimize sample handling and centrifugation efficiency while reducing unnecessary tube volume and excess headspace.

Midicentrifuge tubes are ideal for sample volumes between approximately 2 mL and 12 mL, especially when a 15 mL conical tube is too large for the application or incompatible with the available rotor setup.

What you will find in this section:

• Sterility options: Sterile (for sensitive work) & Non-sterile (for routine use)

• Bag packed: Economical, space-saving

• Racked: Organized, ready-to-use

• Attached screw cap: No mix-ups, convenient

• Assembled screw cap: Pre-fitted, time-saving

• Separate screw cap: Flexible handling for workflows

How to Choose Midicentrifuge Tubes

Selecting the Appropriate Volume

The choice between 5 mL and 10 mL tubes depends on the volume of your samples and workflow requirements.

5 mL midi tubes are well suited for applications involving smaller sample volumes, typically below 4.5 mL. They minimize excess headspace and can improve pellet formation during lower-speed centrifugation procedures.

10 mL midi tubes are commonly used for larger intermediate-volume applications, including culture supernatant collection, protein purification workflows, and virus concentration protocols requiring volumes between 6 mL and 10 mL.

Rotor Compatibility

Before purchasing midi tubes, verify that your centrifuge rotor or adapter system is designed to accommodate 5 mL or 10 mL formats. While many benchtop centrifuges support these tubes through dedicated adapters, compatibility varies by manufacturer and rotor model.

The standard dimensions of Globe Scientific 10 mL centrifuge tubes are compatible with many commonly used conical tube adapters found in research and clinical laboratories.

Sterility and Cap Design

Sterile midi tubes with attached screw caps are recommended for cell culture, clinical specimens, and applications where contamination control is essential. Attached caps also reduce the risk of sample mix-ups and accidental contamination.

Non-sterile tubes with separate caps may offer a more economical option for routine laboratory procedures where sterility is not required.

Packaging Considerations

Most midi tubes are supplied in bagged packaging rather than racks. A common configuration includes 100 tubes per bag, making them suitable for laboratories that process moderate to high sample volumes. Reviewing expected usage rates can help determine appropriate ordering quantities and inventory levels.

Compare Midi Tube Variants

10 mL Polypropylene Midi Tubes with Attached Screw Caps
These sterile tubes are commonly used for clinical specimens, cell culture supernatants, and protein purification workflows. The attached cap design enhances sample security and handling convenience.

5 mL Polypropylene Midi Tubes with Attached Caps
Available in sterile and non-sterile formats, these tubes are suitable for gradient fraction collection, low-volume sample preparation, and intermediate-volume centrifugation procedures.

Non-Sterile Midi Tubes with Separate Caps
Designed for routine laboratory applications where contamination control is less critical, these tubes provide a cost-effective option for general-purpose centrifugation workflows.

Specifications and Features

Globe Scientific midicentrifuge tubes are manufactured from high-quality polypropylene and are certified RNase-free and DNase-free. The conical-bottom design promotes efficient sample recovery and pellet formation, while the polypropylene construction provides excellent chemical resistance and temperature stability from −80 °C to +121 °C.

Sterile 10 mL Globe Scientific tubes are supplied with attached screw caps and are commonly packaged with 100 tubes per bag. Globe Scientific operates under ISO 9001:2015 quality standards to ensure consistent manufacturing and product performance.

MBP carries Globe Scientific 10 mL midicentrifuge tubes and may offer additional 5 mL options depending on current inventory availability.

Have questions about the best fit for your workflow? Contact the Molecular Biology Products Inc. team for a quick quote.