Thermo Fisher Laboratory Racks for Tubes, PCR & Cryo Storage

Selecting the right rack keeps samples upright, labeled, and easy to move between bench, water bath, and freezer without spills or mix-ups. This Collection brings together Thermo Fisher laboratory racks—covering tube, PCR, cryogenic, vial, plate, and floating formats—so you can quickly match a rack to your containers and workflow. As a distributor, Iright supplies a broad range of Thermo Fisher options and supports bulk orders, documentation, and after-sales service.

What Are Laboratory Racks and When to Use Them

Laboratory racks organize and stabilize vessels during prep, incubation, transport, and storage. The right rack reduces tipping, speeds identification, and helps standardize batch handling. In daily use, this translates to fewer errors at the bench and smoother handoffs between temperature zones, automation stations, and cold storage.

Common fits include 0.2 mL PCR tubes and strips, 1.5/2 mL microcentrifuge tubes, 15/50 mL conical tubes, cryovials (1.2/2.0 mL), chromatography vials, microplates, and pipette-tip boxes. Typical scenarios range from PCR setup and nucleic-acid workflows to cell banking, buffer aliquoting, water-bath incubations, ice-bucket cooling, and freezer organization for sample libraries.

Main Rack Types: Test Tube, PCR, Cryovial, Floating & Freezer Racks

Thermo Fisher offers multiple rack families so you can select by container and task rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution. Use the quick guide below to orient your choice, then refine by capacity, material, temperature rating, and labeling.

• Tube Racks (Micro & Conical) — Stable placement for 1.5/2 mL microtubes and 15/50 mL conicals; look for anti-slip bases, clear alphanumeric grids, and color-coded panels for quick indexing.

• PCR Racks & Workstations — For 0.2 mL tubes, strips, or 96-position layouts; often compatible with cold blocks to keep master mixes chilled during setup.

• Cryogenic Freezer Racks & Boxes — Pair with cryovials and freezer boxes for tidy drawer stacking and fast retrieval; models focus on ultra-low-temperature stability and inventory control.

• Vial/Bottle Racks — Hold chromatography vials or small bottles upright with easy numbering to reduce mis-placement during sample prep and fraction collection.

• Floating/Water-Bath Racks — Keep tubes vertical in water or ice baths; floating designs prevent tipping and enable uniform thermal contact during incubations.

• Plate Holders & Tip Racks — Support microplates or pipette-tip boxes; unified footprints help keep deck layouts consistent on automation-adjacent benches.

How to Choose the Right Rack: Size, Capacity, Temperature & Sterility

Good selection starts with the vessel you use most, then narrows to environmental demands and traceability. Think about whether the rack must travel between bench, bath, freezer, and sterilizer—and whether color coding or barcoding will prevent mix-ups in your lab’s labeling system.

• Container & Aperture — Match holes to tube/vial diameters (0.2/1.5/2/15/50 mL, or vial mm sizes) and to the pattern you need (e.g., 24, 50, or 96 positions).

• Capacity & Footprint — Pick a position count that mirrors your batch sizes; ANSI/SLAS footprints keep layouts compatible with common lab decks and carriers.

• Temperature & Sterilization — Confirm autoclave suitability for steam cycles (commonly 121–134 °C) and low-temperature performance for freezers or LN2-adjacent handling where applicable.

• Material & Chemical Resistance — Polypropylene and polycarbonate cover most wet-lab needs; stainless steel offers maximum rigidity, thermal stability, and long life in cold storage.

• Identification & Tracking — Choose color-coded, numbered grids or barcode-ready faces to align with your LIMS or simple bench-labeling system.

• Cleanliness & Packaging — If your workflow is sensitive, look for sterile or DNase/RNase/pyrogen-tested options as indicated by the product documentation.

Compatibility & Lab Standards: Tube Diameters, ANSI/SLAS, Barcode-Ready

Compatibility prevents friction when racks meet instruments, carriers, or storage furniture. When components align, you avoid re-racking, wobbly fits, and mismatched positions that add risk to busy days.

Thermo Fisher racks are offered with hole patterns for common tube sizes (0.2/1.5/2/15/50 mL and standard vial diameters) and plate-style footprints that align with ANSI/SLAS dimensions where relevant. Many models include alphanumeric grids for error-proofing, and select designs provide smooth faces or tabs suitable for 1D/2D barcodes. For cold storage, racks integrate with commonly used freezer boxes and drawer systems to maximize vertical space and keep indexing consistent across shelves.

Materials, Care & Sterilization: Polypropylene vs. Stainless Steel

Your material choice affects weight, feel, lifespan, and cleaning method. Matching rack material to chemicals and temperatures in your workflow will extend service life and preserve labeling clarity over time.

Polypropylene/Polycarbonate (PP/PC) racks are light, durable, and broadly chemical-resistant. Many models are autoclavable—always verify the specific product note—and hold up well to routine cleaning with alcohols or diluted bleach. Stainless steel racks deliver superior rigidity, thermal stability, and ultra-low-temperature performance; they’re ideal for freezers and heavy use. Follow product-specific care instructions for wash agents and sterilization frequency, and inspect regularly for warping, cracks, or label wear that could compromise identification.

Featured Use Cases & Workflow Tips: PCR Setup, Cryo Storage, Water Baths

Use cases help translate features into everyday gains. A few small tweaks—consistent indexing, color coding, and the right thermal accessories—can cut minutes from each run and reduce mix-ups over months of routine work.

• PCR & qPCR Setup — A 96-position PCR rack with clear row/column grids keeps strips oriented during master-mix addition. Pair with a pre-chilled block to slow enzymatic activity while you stage plates.

• Cell Banking & Cryo Logistics — Combine cryovial racks with color-coded freezer boxes; record box/grid coordinates in your inventory sheet or LIMS so you can pull vials fast without thawing neighboring samples.

• Chromatography Prep — Use numbered vial racks to stage fractions or standards; log vial positions directly to your sequence table to eliminate handwriting ambiguity.

• Water-/Ice-Bath Incubations — Floating tube racks prevent tip-and-dip mishaps when buffers or enzymes must be held at temperature; set timers per rack to separate runs at different incubation lengths.

• Training & Turnover — Standardize one rack pattern per workflow and post a bench card. New team members match the card’s color and grid references on day one.

Comparison Snapshot: Positions, Tube Size, Material, Autoclave/Freezer

A quick comparison helps you narrow the field to two or three candidates before checking detailed specs. Use this as a template when filtering products; we recommend aligning position counts with your most common batch size.

Note: Always confirm sterilization temperature, chemical compatibility, and low-temperature ratings in the official Thermo Fisher product documentation for the exact model you select.

FAQs: Autoclavable, Low-Temperature Use, Numbering & LIMS Tracking

Most questions center on sterilization cycles, freezer suitability, and labeling. Clear answers—and consistent bench habits—keep runs moving without rework or guesswork.

• Are all tube racks autoclavable? Not all. Many PP/PC racks are autoclavable, but always check the product page for cycle limits and instructions.

• Can I use the same rack from bench to -80 °C? Stainless-steel freezer racks are designed for ultra-low environments. For plastic racks, verify rated temperature and avoid sudden thermal shocks.

• How do I prevent tube swaps? Choose racks with clear alphanumeric grids and implement color coding. Label rack faces or use barcode-ready areas linked to your LIMS.

• Do racks fit automation carriers? Select plate-footprint models with ANSI/SLAS compatibility notes when you plan to stage near instruments.

• What if my tube size varies? Consider mixed-aperture or modular racks, or keep a matched pair (e.g., 1.5/2 mL and 15/50 mL) so you don’t stretch hole tolerances.

Get a Quote from Iright — Bulk Ordering, Certificates & Lead Times

When you’re ready to standardize, we’ll help you finalize sizes, positions, and materials to match your protocol and storage plan. Iright provides model curation, bulk pricing, delivery estimates, and—where applicable—COA or conformity statements. Share your typical tube sizes, batch volumes, and environmental requirements, and we’ll return a short list of Thermo Fisher racks for quick approval.