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Choose the Right Tube for Your Flow Cytometry Workflow
Prepare and collect dissociated samples with a familiar 12 × 75 mm format. MTC Bio FlowTubes combine crystal-clear polystyrene with a choice of 35 µm strainer caps, standard two-position caps or uncapped tubes.
Five tube configurations, plus caps-only strainer packs in four mesh sizes, make it easy to match your protocol’s filtration, sterility and packaging needs. Every tube configuration has a 5 mL capacity.
5 mL
Tube capacity
12 × 75 mm
Tube dimensions
35 µm
Nylon mesh on strainer models
9 Options
Tube cases and caps-only strainer packs
Built Around Sample Preparation
Clear Polystyrene
See the sample through the crystal-clear tube body.
Strainer-Cap Choice
T9005 and T9005-1S incorporate a 35 µm nylon mesh screen.
Controlled Neck Dimensions
MTC Bio controls neck diameter and wall thickness for consistent instrument fit.
Workflow-Ready Packaging
Choose bagged, individually wrapped, sterile tray-packed or non-sterile bulk tubes.
One Tube Format, Three Cap Choices
Use a strainer-cap configuration when your protocol calls for sample straining. Choose the standard two-position culture cap for capped handling without a mesh screen.
Uncapped options let you select sterile tray packs or a larger non-sterile bulk case. To strain into uncapped tubes, add a caps-only strainer pack (T9009 series) in 20, 35, 70 or 100 µm.
Match the Configuration to Your Bench
Strainer Cap
Catalogs: T9005 / T9005-1S
Mesh: 35 µm nylon
Case: 500 sterile tubes
Standard Cap
Catalog: T9010
Closure: Two-position culture cap
Case: 500 sterile tubes
Uncapped
Sterile: T9014: 1,000/case
Non-sterile: T9020: 4,000/case
Caps: Not included; strainer caps sold separately
Strainer Caps Only
Catalogs: T9009-20 / T9009 / T9009-70 / T9009-100
Mesh: 20, 35, 70 or 100 µm, color coded
Pack: 500 sterile caps (20 bags × 25)
Typical Applications
- Collecting dissociated samples for flow cytometry
- Cell-straining preparation using 35 µm cap models
- Routine capped sample handling with T9010
- Validated automated flow cytometry workflows
Ordering and Compatibility Tip
Order by complete case, not by individual tube. Check cap style, sterility and case count before adding to cart. Confirm tube and cap requirements for your instrument and validate your protocol before substituting another manufacturer’s consumable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size and material are FlowTubes?
All tube configurations on this page are crystal-clear polystyrene, 12 × 75 mm, with a 5 mL capacity. Case quantities and cap styles vary by catalog number.
Which flow cytometry tubes have 35 micron strainer caps?
T9005 and T9005-1S have 35 µm nylon strainer caps. Both are sterile 5 mL, 12 × 75 mm polystyrene tubes supplied 500 per case. T9005 contains 20 bags of 25 tubes; T9005-1S tubes are individually wrapped. The other tube cases on this page do not include a strainer cap. To add straining to uncapped tubes, or to use a different mesh size, order a caps-only T9009 strainer pack in 20, 35, 70 or 100 µm.
When should I choose a standard cap or an uncapped tube?
Choose T9010 when you need a standard two-position culture cap rather than a strainer. Choose T9014 for sterile uncapped tubes in tray packs or T9020 for non-sterile uncapped tubes in a bulk econo-pack. Uncapped versions do not include caps.
Are all configurations sterile?
No. T9005, T9005-1S, T9010 and T9014 are sterile, and all T9009 caps-only strainer packs are sterile. T9020 is non-sterile. Select according to your protocol and maintain appropriate handling after the packaging is opened.
What does one unit ordered contain?
One unit is one complete case: 500 tubes for T9005, T9005-1S or T9010; 1,000 tubes for T9014; or 4,000 tubes for T9020. Each T9009 caps-only strainer pack contains 500 caps. Prices and stock quantities refer to cases or packs, not individual tubes or caps.
Can FlowTubes be used as FACS tubes?
MTC Bio states that FlowTubes are designed for flow cytometry equipment including BD FACS systems, with controlled neck diameter and wall thickness. Check your specific instrument model, sample loader and protocol requirements before use; compatibility is not guaranteed for every configuration.
Are FlowTubes an alternative to Falcon 352235 strainer-cap tubes?
T9005 is an option to evaluate against Corning Falcon 352235: both are 5 mL, 12 × 75 mm polystyrene tubes with a 35 µm nylon strainer cap, supplied sterile in packs of 25 and cases of 500. Corning additionally lists RNase/DNase-free status and nonpyrogenicity testing below 0.1 EU/mL for 352235; those claims are not established here for FlowTubes. They are different manufacturers’ products, not certified identical or guaranteed drop-in replacements. Validate fit, sample recovery and assay performance for your workflow.
Does a 35 µm mesh guarantee a single-cell suspension?
No. The mesh assists sample straining, but the result depends on your sample, preparation and protocol. Validate filtration, cell recovery and downstream performance rather than assuming that a nominal mesh size alone meets your assay requirements.
Which strainer cap mesh size should I choose?
The caps-only T9009 series is color coded by pore size: 20 µm (red), 35 µm (green), 70 µm (white) and 100 µm (yellow). 35 µm is the typical choice for preparing single-cell suspensions and preventing clogs before FACS. Larger meshes pass larger cells and clusters, and 20 µm gives finer straining. The caps are low-density polyethylene, fit 12 × 75 mm FlowTubes and culture tubes, and come sterile in pouches of 25. Validate the mesh size for your sample type.
FACS and Falcon are trademarks of their respective owners. Blue Tiger Scientific is not affiliated with BD or Corning.
Related products and workflow options
- Related workflow: SureStrain cell strainers — Compare separate cell-straining formats and mesh sizes for upstream sample preparation; these are not replacement FlowTubes caps.
- Related workflow: ReadyStrain cell-straining kits — For a separate strainer-and-50 mL-collection-tube preparation step before your flow-cytometry workflow.
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