Glassware Preparations

Disposable polystyrene plastic and soda glass containers are in common use for cell cultures, which may be viewed under a biology microscope, having both the advantage of low initial cost and can therefore be discarded after one use. Few people are required for washing and reprocessing of tissue culture vessels. Tissue culture vessels are not part of the biology microscope.

Plastic flasks have the additional advantage that they are wrapped in cellophane and sterilized with ethylene oxide or ultraviolet light by the manufacturer and can therefore be used directly from the carton without further preparation or sterilization. However, neither plastic nor soda glass is satisfactory for cultivation of cells in chemically defined media, because the media cannot neutralize minute traces of chemicals or toxic substances.

Borosilicate glass is preferred for growth of many delicate cells, for research in nutrition of cells using a biology microscope, and for cells grown in chemically defined media. It can be cleaned with strong solvents, and is resistant to heat, scratching, breakage, and can be reprocessed repeatedly. In washing borosilicate glassware, three washing procedures are in use: machine washing with strong caustic detergents, hand washing with a milder cleaning mixture for large pieces, and the acid cleaning when cells are to be grown in chemically defined medium.