Medical and research labs are places where you can find lab trays; and who wouldn’t know this by now? First, these trays are essential when it comes to these environments and they are among the first things that you would notice perched on top of the tables.
Any laboratory cannot do without them as they can perform many things from organising to being catch-alls. Lab trays are made to eliminate clutter and abide by this work environment’s systematic rule.
May they be metal, plastic, or glass, these trays also come in many forms and sizes. They can also be moulded into specific shapes or moulds to fit the type of substance they are going to contain. These substances can be liquid, solid, or any material that may be dangerous to hold by hand or dangerous to the skin.
Let us look into the roles and significance that these essential trays can provide within an experiment room setting.
The Importance of Lab Trays
Trays are vessels that have proven their worth when it comes to research or testing. They are there for a purpose and each of them have their own uses. The significance of these containers to particular research studies are enormous and with their presence, many tests and projects have been successful.
Here are the most important roles they play:
- Work to accommodate various lab tasks and requirements
- Provide more space by organizing laboratory equipment
- Able to hold small or large samples
- Offer a myriad of storage types that can hold liquids, solid, or any form of substance
- Used in transporting materials from one place to another
- Contain materials for sterilisation, drying, and test preparation
- Act as secondary containment for chemicals
Now, take a look at the types that are currently available in the market or are found in most testing or medical settings.
4 Types of Laboratory Trays
Flat tray
A basic lab fixture, a flat tray serves diverse purposes and can replace other kinds of trays in times when some of them are not available or have broken down. This form is not as shallow as spill trays. As simple as it looks, it can be an ideal vessel for organising experiment materials or specimens. Any basic task can be performed smoothly by flat trays.
Sample tray
A sample tray keeps samples or specimens organised and separated from each other to follow a systematic procedure. It features a separator to keep specimens from cross-contamination, thus, providing accurate results. This is the best tray to use when dealing with a host of research samples.
Spill Tray
This is a shallow utility pan that has a flat bottom and is custom-made to catch drips and spills. Although not so much focused to work against huge spills, a spill tray can protect the floor or the body from bodily fluids or other biohazards.
Storage Tray
A storage tray is the kind of tool lab workers use to keep other samples away from the current process being done within the lab. What they do is place these substances on storage trays and place them in a compartment for the next experiment steps or for future use. Some school labs use sturdy Gratnells trays that are systematically placed in Gratnells trolleys to store substances.
Materials
Materials these trays are made of can range from plastic to stainless steel, to aluminium, glass, and porcelain. Any materials can be held no matter how large the volume. It only depends on using the kind and size of containers for specific purposes.
- Plastic containers: These can carry heat and temperature-sensitive materials or compounds (reagents) that facilitate reactions. These could be enzymes, solvents, and the like. They can also hold some delicate tools or optics for safety protocols.
- Polyethylene (PE): This container is acid, microbe, and water resistant.It has extraordinary insulation properties, corrosion-resistant, sturdy but flexible, and cheaper by regular standards.
- Polypropylene (PP): The ability to balance processability, chemical resistance and mechanical properties makes this material excellent to use for multiple applications. It is cost-effective, as well as lightweight.
- High-density polyethylene (HDPE): Being non-contaminating, non-toxic, and break-resistant HDPE makes it a popular tray material for lab use. This translucent and lightweight tray material can tackle common laboratory chemicals and withstands temperatures from 148 - 176 °F.
Known downside: Plastics may emit toxic gasses in cases of combustion. Thus, it is imperative to handle and recycle plastic trays properly to avoid any untoward incidents.
2. Glass: This tray material offers high visibility due to its transparent nature. It can resist heat and can be placed on hot plates unlike plastic types. Glass does not react to any substance or materials placed on it.
Known downside: Glass materials are prone to breakage, and heavier than plastic, stainless steel, and aluminium.
3. Stainless steel: Chemical and rust resistant, low-maintenance, cheap, and durable, stainless steel is a good option when it comes to its sterile qualities. It is lightweight and can resist varying hot and cold temperatures.
Known downside: Once dented or damaged, corrosion may set in which causes metal degradation.
4. Aluminium: A cheaper option compared to stainless steel, aluminium trays used in laboratories, this tray material is resistant to rust and other corrosive chemicals or agents. With its lightweight feature, it can balance weight and can afford to contain heavy objects or substances.
Known downside: There is a possibility of being dented while in the process of carrying heavy objects or struck by another tray due to its thinness.
5. Porcelain: Some labs prefer porcelain, a by-product of ceramic material. It works perfectly when analysing fusion reactions, experiments requiring high temperatures, separating mixture by means of evaporation, and chemical analysis.
Known downside: Porcelain is heavier than plastic, stainless steel, aluminium, and sometimes glass, depending on the size of the tray.
Market Upgrades
There are newer models that look like smaller versions of spill pallets with removable grates that also feature a spout for easy pouring. If some trays can accommodate only small amounts, there are upgraded trays that are able to contain up to a maximum of five gallons of liquids.
Other manufacturers are smart enough to produce unique pieces that answer some issues seen in previously marketed types. To prevent table-top spills, containment dikes are also made available by some suppliers.
Like all other materials, using trays for laboratories requires compliance towards safety standards. In addition, reading a manufacturer's instructions keeps you informed. All should be taken seriously to ensure safe handling for the sake of the environment.
How to Choose the Right Lab Trays
When looking for things to buy, buyers don’t settle for low quality. You can learn how to get the best material by knowing the substance they will be made to contain. Take a look at trays that will not give you any issues like melting, contamination, or breaking so you can ascertain which ones are more appropriate.
Experiments are trial and error processes and are very delicate matters. Hence, you should be very wary when choosing. Trays come in different sizes, so you should know how to use them in accordance with:
- Substance volume
- Chemical makeup
- Substance weight
- Amount of depth
- Durability
- Practicality
Conclusion
In this time and age where everything is evolving, all implements like lab trays, also yield to innovation. With all gearing up to nudge competitors, buyers have wisened up and are more knowledgeable in choosing from a wide variety of options. Therefore, it is imperative to learn about what the items stand for to get the right tool that would serve its purpose..
A little mistake can go a long way to the point wherein you can endanger yourself while handling the wrong types of vessels. Although the trays are promoted to project an all-purpose feature, they have their own disadvantages. You can always search for the best items depending on their use cases, durability, strength, and cost-effectiveness.
