What is the Tube Clip used for?

The Eppendorf Tubes ® 5.0 mL offer secure closure at incubation temperatures up to 80 °C. For higher temperatures, the Tube Clip should be used to secure the lid.

Can the universal adapter for conical 15 mL screw-cap tubes be used in each rotor/adapter that is designed for this tube type?

It can be used in the respective Eppendorf rotors/adapters, but we assume no liability for use in rotors/adapters from other manufacturers.

Is it necessary to buy new equipment to be able to use the new tube?

The bottom shape of the Eppendorf Tubes ® 5.0 mL is similar to that of conical 15 mL tubes which means that they are compatible with a wide range of standard laboratory equipment. In addition, an extensive range of accessories is available, enabling them to be used in many devices. Both racks and storage boxes are available for lab bench work and storage. Incubation and mixing operations can be performed using suitable blocks on Eppendorf thermomixers and compatibility with Eppendorf centrifuges is ensured by special rotors and a variety of adapters. With a suitable reservoir rack module, the tubes can also be integrated into the epMotion ® automated liquid handling workstation. A detailed description of the accessories is provided in Application Note No. 265

What types of applications can be carried out with Eppendorf Tubes ® 5.0 mL?

Basically, this tube type can be used for the same applications as the micro centrifugation tubes available in 1.5 and 2 mL formats. They close a gap between this small tube format and conical 15 mL tubes for sample volumes up to 5 mL. The tubes can be used in the field of cell culture. For this purpose, they are available in the purity grades “Sterile” (= sterile and pyrogen-free) or Biopur ® . They are suitable for lysis of cells and tissues and purification of nucleic acids and proteins. For this, the PCR clean purity grade and LoBind variants are provided. They are also ideally suited for the preparation of large volumes of master mixes, buffers or dilution series as well as for space-saving storage of samples.

Are the Eppendorf Tubes ® 5.0 mL available with the same purities and LoBind variants as the small micro centrifugation tubes from Eppendorf?

The Eppendorf Tubes ® 5.0 mL are available in the purity grades Eppendorf Quality, PCR clean and Biopur ® and also in the purity grade Sterile. In addition to irradiation for sterilization, this also includes certified testing for the absence of pyrogens. The tubes are also available as DNA LoBind and Protein LoBind variants.

Up to which g-force can the Eppendorf Tubes ® 5.0 mL be centrifuged?

All tube types are resistant up to 25,000 x g when used in combination with a suitable rotor or adapter. (Test conditions: 45° fixed-angle rotor at 40 °C, with aqueous salt solution (density 1.0 g/mL) and 90 mins). The mechanical loading capacity of the tubes is reduced by the use of organic solvents.

How resistant are the Eppendorf Tubes ® 5.0 mL to chemicals?

The tubes are made of high quality highly transparent polypropylene and therefore resistant to a variety of commonly used chemical substances in the laboratory. An overview is provided in Application Note No. 56.

Is it possible to store samples in 5.0 mL Eppendorf Tubes ® in the freezer?

Yes, the tubes can be stored down to -86 °C.

Are Eppendorf tubes and plates (also LoBind variants) resistant to 100% acetonitrile?

Eppendorf tubes and plates including LoBind variants are resistant against 100% acetonitrile only in room temperature conditions. Above 40°C and prolonged exposure (days) may lead to partial damage and is not recommended. For lower acetonitrile concentrations the resistance parameters will be better so prolonged exposure and higher temperatures may be possible. This must be however tested by the customer.