MITR Labshark Water Bath Floating Rack for Round & Square Centrifuge Tubes and Eppendorf Tubes

Overview

The MITR Labshark Water Bath Floating Rack is a precision-engineered accessory designed to stabilize and organize standard laboratory vessels—including 15 mL and 50 mL conical centrifuge tubes, 1.5 mL and 2.0 mL Eppendorf (EP) tubes, and microcentrifuge tubes—during immersion in circulating water baths. Unlike generic foam inserts or custom-cut blocks, this rack employs buoyancy-optimized polyethylene architecture to maintain consistent tube positioning at the liquid–air interface without submerging caps or compromising thermal uniformity. Its dual-format design accommodates both round-bottom and square-profile tubes within a single, stackable platform, minimizing cross-contamination risk and maximizing bath surface utilization. The device operates passively—requiring no power, calibration, or software—and is compatible with all commercially available analog and digital water baths operating between 4 °C and 99.9 °C.

Key Features

• Buoyancy-balanced polyethylene construction ensures stable floatation across variable water levels and temperature gradients without tilting or drifting.
• Dual-format compatibility: precisely spaced circular wells (Ø16.5 mm and Ø10.5 mm) for round tubes; recessed square cavities (12.5 × 12.5 mm) for square-section centrifuge tubes.
• Chemically inert material resists degradation from common aqueous buffers (e.g., PBS, Tris-HCl), ethanol washes, and mild detergents—validated per ISO 10993-5 cytotoxicity screening protocols.
• Stackable modular design enables vertical organization of up to four racks in standard 20 L–30 L water baths, supporting high-throughput sample processing workflows.
• Low thermal mass minimizes localized heat sink effects, preserving bath temperature homogeneity (±0.3 °C at setpoint) as verified by ASTM E2234-compliant thermal mapping.
• Autoclavable at 121 °C, 15 psi for 20 minutes—supports GLP-compliant reuse cycles without dimensional creep or surface tackiness.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Labshark Floating Rack is validated for use with polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polycarbonate (PC) tubes conforming to ISO 8536-1 (infusion containers) and ISO 7810 (identification cards—mechanical tolerance reference). It meets CE marking requirements for laboratory accessories under Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC) and 2014/35/EU (LVD), with documentation available upon request. While not classified as medical-grade equipment, its material formulation complies with USP <661.1> Class VI plastic testing criteria for extractables and leachables when used in non-invasive, non-implantable research applications.

Software & Data Management

This is a passive mechanical accessory with no embedded electronics, firmware, or connectivity interfaces. As such, it requires no driver installation, cloud registration, or software validation. All operational parameters are defined by physical geometry and material properties—not algorithmic control. For laboratories operating under FDA 21 CFR Part 11 or EU Annex 11, the rack qualifies as “non-configurable hardware” and does not require electronic audit trails, user access controls, or change management documentation. Maintenance records (e.g., autoclave cycle logs) may be retained manually per institutional SOPs.

Applications

• Enzyme reaction incubations requiring precise thermal equilibration of multiple tube formats simultaneously.
• DNA/RNA storage and thawing protocols where cap integrity and condensation control are critical.
• Cell culture sample warming prior to passaging—minimizing thermal shock via uniform vessel exposure.
• Calibration standard placement during water bath qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) per ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Clause 6.4.10.
• Teaching laboratories managing mixed-tube experiments across undergraduate biochemistry and molecular biology curricula.

FAQ

Is the floating rack compatible with shaking water baths?
Yes—its low center of gravity and hydrodynamic profile ensure stability under orbital agitation up to 120 rpm at amplitudes ≤25 mm.
Can I use it in ice-water slurry baths?
Yes—polyethylene remains dimensionally stable down to −20 °C; however, prolonged exposure below 0 °C may reduce impact resistance.
Does MITR provide custom well configurations?
Yes—OEM tooling is available for volume orders ≥500 units; lead time is 6–8 weeks from drawing approval.
How often should the rack be replaced?
Under normal lab use (≤5 autoclave cycles/week), service life exceeds 24 months; visual inspection for microcracking or warping is recommended quarterly.
Is traceability documentation available for GMP environments?
Batch-specific CoA (Certificate of Analysis) and material compliance statements are provided with every shipment exceeding 100 units.