Sample Storage Containers for Clinical and Laboratory Use

Sample storage containers are lidded PP and HDPE vessels used to hold and preserve clinical specimens, tissue fixatives, reagents, and chemicals during laboratory processing, storage, and transport. Globe Scientific's range includes PP Tite-Rite graduated containers (40 mL, 90 mL), PP specimen cups with ¼-turn caps (120 mL), pre-filled 10% NBF PP containers for tissue fixation, and HDPE economy multi-purpose containers (240 mL–2500 mL). PP containers are autoclavable (121°C); HDPE containers are rated from −100°C to +120°C. MBP ships to labs across the US, Canada, and internationally and is a registered vendor for Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Vanderbilt University, and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Need help selecting the right sample storage containers for your laboratory workflow? — Contact our team at customerservice@mbpinc.net for product recommendations, bulk pricing, and purchasing assistance.

Sample Storage Containers

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What Are Sample Storage Containers?

Sample storage containers are closed, lidded vessels used to hold and preserve laboratory specimens, reagents, fixatives, and chemicals during processing, storage, and transport. The category spans polypropylene (PP) graduated specimen cups (30–120 mL) for clinical specimen collection, HDPE wide-mouth containers (240 mL–2500 mL) for reagent and buffer holding, and specialized PP Tite-Rite wide-mouth containers (40–90 mL) for tissue fixation and specimen transport. Globe Scientific's container line includes graduated specimen cups with ¼-turn and full-thread screw caps, pre-filled NBF containers for histology, and HDPE multi-purpose containers across the full volume range. PP containers are autoclavable and the correct format for any sterile application; HDPE containers offer the broadest chemical resistance for non-sterile reagent and waste applications.

What you will find:

Storage Boxes & Racks: Storage boxes and racks for organized and efficient storage of lab samples and tubes.
Multi-Purpose Containers: Versatile containers for routine, sterile, and chemical-resistant sample storage applications.
Jerricans: Heavy-duty containers for safe storage and transport of large liquid volumes.
Carboys: Large-capacity containers designed for secure storage and dispensing of laboratory liquids.

How to Choose Sample Storage Containers

Material: PP vs. HDPE

PP is autoclavable at 121°C, suitable for sterile specimen collection, reagent preparation, and tissue fixation workflows. HDPE offers slightly broader chemical resistance and very low leachables for chemical and buffer storage. For formalin fixation, PP is the verified compatible material; confirm HDPE compatibility with aggressive organic chemicals before use.

Closure Type

Quarter-turn screw caps (¼-turn) are designed for rapid, one-hand sealing—standard in clinical specimen collection where speed and ergonomics matter. Full-thread screw caps with integral seal rings provide a more secure, leak-resistant closure for long-term storage and transport. Snap lids on HDPE economy containers suit bench-accessible static storage.

Graduated vs. Non-Graduated

Graduated containers with molded mL and oz volume markings enable volume estimation without a separate measuring cylinder—useful for specimen collection, fixative volume determination, and primary aliquoting. Non-graduated smooth-sided containers are appropriate where precise volume measurement is not needed and where a smooth surface aids label adhesion and cleaning.

Sterile vs. Non-Sterile

Sterile specimen containers (individually gamma-irradiated, SAL 10⁻⁶) are required for urine culture, tissue collection, and clinical specimen handling. Non-sterile containers are appropriate for chemical storage, reagent preparation, waste collection, and any application where biological sterility is not required.

Compare Sample Storage Container Formats

Graduated specimen cups (90 mL / 3 oz, PP) with ¼-turn screw caps are used for routine clinical specimen collection such as urine samples and are available in sterile formats for diagnostic workflows. Tite-Rite PP containers (40–90 mL) with full-thread screw caps are designed for tissue fixation and secure specimen transport, with optional pre-filled 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF) versions for histology workflows. HDPE economy containers (240 mL / 8 oz) with snap lids are used for reagent and buffer sub-aliquoting where sterilization is not required. Larger HDPE economy containers (2580 mL / 86 oz) are used for bulk reagent storage and waste handling. Larger graduated PP specimen cups (120 mL / 4 oz) are used for higher-volume clinical specimens such as stool or bulk urine collection.

Specifications Context

Globe Scientific PP specimen containers are ISO 9001:2015 certified and manufactured from virgin polypropylene compliant with FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 standards. Tite-Rite PP containers feature a 53 mm wide-mouth opening for easy specimen access and a full-thread screw cap with an integrated sealing ring to ensure leak resistance during transport. Pre-filled NBF containers are supplied with hazard labeling and transport packaging suitable for clinical histology workflows. 90 mL graduated PP specimen containers remain the standard format in CAP-accredited urinalysis and urine culture laboratories. Explore storage boxes & racks, multi-purpose containers, and jerricans for complementary storage solutions.

Sometimes the difference between good data and repeat work comes down to how well the sample was stored. Contact the MBP Team today to request a quote for your storage needs.

FAQ

Sample storage containers are lidded vessels used to hold, protect, and preserve laboratory specimens, reagents, buffers, and chemicals during storage and transport. They are available in polypropylene (PP, autoclavable to 121°C), HDPE (chemical-resistant, −100°C to +120°C), polystyrene (PS, clear, ambient use), and polycarbonate (PC, transparent, autoclavable). Globe Scientific's container range includes graduated PP specimen containers (30 mL–120 mL), HDPE multi-purpose containers (240 mL–2500 mL), and screw-cap formats with integral seal rings for leak-free closure.

Laboratory sample storage containers span a wide volume range: small specimen cups (30 mL, 60 mL, 90 mL, 120 mL) for urine, tissue, and clinical specimens; mid-size containers (240 mL–500 mL) for reagent and buffer aliquots; and large-format containers (1 L–2.5 L) for bulk reagent and waste collection. Globe Scientific multi-purpose HDPE containers are available in 8 oz (240 mL), and larger formats up to 86 oz (2580 mL) for bulk storage.

Laboratory sample storage containers are available in both sterile and non-sterile versions. Sterile containers for urine culture, tissue collection, and clinical specimen handling are individually gamma-irradiated (SAL 10⁻⁶) and packaged in sealed wrap. Non-sterile containers are used for chemical storage, reagent preparation, waste collection, and applications where biological sterility is not required. Globe Scientific specimen containers are available in both configurations; confirm the sterility requirement for your application before ordering.

A graduated specimen container is a polypropylene screw-cap container with molded volume markings (in mL and oz) on the container body, enabling volume estimation without a separate measuring cylinder. Standard 90 mL PP graduated containers with wide-mouth 53 mm openings and leak-proof screw caps are used for urine collection, stool collection, tissue fixation in formalin, and general specimen handling in clinical and research labs. The graduated markings allow approximate volume confirmation during specimen collection at the bedside or during laboratory processing.

Polypropylene (PP) containers are the standard choice for formalin (10% neutral buffered formalin) tissue fixation—PP is chemically resistant to formaldehyde solutions at room temperature. Globe Scientific offers pre-filled PP Tite-Rite containers with 10% neutral buffered formalin in 40 mL and 90 mL sizes, with attached hazard labels, packed in CariPaks for safe transport. Never use polystyrene containers for formalin; formaldehyde attacks PS and may crack the container over time.

Globe Scientific Diamond RealSeal HDPE multi-purpose containers are rated to −100°C, making them compatible with −20°C and −80°C freezer storage of aqueous solutions, buffers, and non-solvent samples. The integral seal-ring polypropylene cap provides a leak-proof closure at low temperatures. Do not store samples in HDPE containers at liquid nitrogen temperatures (−196°C)—use polypropylene or polycarbonate cryogenic vials and cryo boxes for LN2 storage.

MBP carries Globe Scientific's container range, including Tite-Rite PP graduated specimen containers (40 mL and 90 mL), general-purpose PP specimen containers (120 mL with ¼-turn screw cap), and HDPE multi-purpose containers (240 mL–2500 mL with snap lid). Globe Scientific is ISO 9001:2015 certified. MBP ships to labs across the US, Canada, and internationally and is a registered vendor for Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Vanderbilt University, and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

A ¼-turn (quarter-turn) screw cap seals the container with a 90° rotation—faster to close and open than a full-thread screw cap, reducing cap cross-threading and one-hand closure time in high-throughput clinical workflows. Full-turn (multi-thread) screw caps require one or more complete rotations to seat fully, providing a more secure mechanical seal that is preferred for longer-term storage or transport where the cap might loosen under vibration. Globe Scientific 4 oz PP specimen containers feature a ¼-turn green screw cap for rapid closure.

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