Olympus Plastics 5ml centrifuge tubes take all of the conveniences of standard 1.5ml tubes and scale them up for larger volumes. The 16mm tube diameter is identical to the diameter of standard 15ml tubes, which ensures further compatibility with centrifuge rotors, etc. These polypropylene tubes come with an attached cap that not only provides a tight, leak-proof seal, but also effortless opening and closing with one hand. The cap is designed to provide a secure seal from -86°C to +80°C. Cap lock clips are available to maintain the integrity of the seal at extreme temperatures. In incubated/heated applications, tubes may be "boiled" for up to 10 minutes. At temperatures above 80°C, the use of the cap lock is recommended.

The center of the cap also has a special thin "membrane" area that is designed for easy puncture and access by a syringe/needle. Once punctured, the opening can also be useful for venting the internal pressure caused by incubation at moderately high temperatures. The tubes are made of maximum clarity, low-binding virgin polypropylene and are certified RNase & DNase free. Sterile tubes are also pyrogen free. They are sized to be compatible with all USA and standard German-designed equipment, including centrifuges, dry bath block heaters, tube racks and thermal shakers/vortexers.