Smarter Serial Dilution with Resource-Efficient Bags
Inlabtec Serial Dilution Bags combine sterile single-use convenience with very low material use. Designed for automated workflows with Inlabtec Serial Diluters, they help laboratories reduce preparation work, manual handling and resource-intensive tube reprocessing.
The result is a faster, cleaner and more standardised dilution workflow for modern microbiological testing laboratories.
Key Features of the Serial Dilution Bags
- Each bag is made from only 250 mg of high-quality polyethylene.
- Specifically designed for use with the Inlabtec Serial Diluter system.
- Made from high-quality virgin polyethylene (PE) without growth-inhibiting substances.
- Sterile single-use format supporting reliable microbiological testing.
- Compatible with standard microbiological methods.
- Conveniently supplied in rolls of 2,000 bags from a user-friendly cardboard dispenser box.
- Shrink-wrapped cardboard box for clean, compact and long-term storage at room temperature.
Key Advantages of the Serial Dilution Bags
- Low material use: Each bag uses only 250 mg of polyethylene, keeping plastic consumption per dilution very low.
- Efficient workflow: Ready-to-use sterile bags eliminate tube washing, sterilisation and filling before use.
- Cost-effective in daily use: Predictable consumable cost per dilution, balanced by reduced preparation time, handling effort and workflow complexity.
- Reduced cost and waste compared with pre-filled containers: Compared with pre-filled disposable dilution containers, Serial Dilution Bags can reduce consumable costs and plastic waste by up to 90%, depending on the reference product and laboratory workflow.
- Designed for standardised dilution: Specifically developed for use with Inlabtec Serial Diluters, supporting accurate and consistent dilution steps.
- Reliable microbiological testing: Sterile bags made from high-quality virgin PE support reliable microbiological results.
- Resource-efficient: Low material weight, compact storage and elimination of washing and autoclaving help reduce resource use in serial dilution workflows.
- Minimal storage space: The compact bag format reduces storage requirements compared with pre-filled dilution containers and prepared tube racks.
Specifications of Serial Dilution Bags
Quotation and scope of delivery of Serial Dilution Bags
Request your quotation.
Volume pricing is available for Serial Dilution Bags, depending on order quantity or annual consumption.
Inlabtec Serial Diluter systems and consumables are quoted individually. For customers outside Switzerland, quotations are usually handled by our local distribution partners to include country-specific logistics, import duties, service, and support.
| Part. No. | Description | Quantity | Price |
| 100101 | Serial Dilution Bags, for the use with Inlabtec Serial Diluters, 2'000 Bags / Box, sterile, Box sealed in a protective film  | 1+ 5+ 10+ 50+ 100+ | Request quote |
Energy Consumption: Glass Tubes vs. Serial Dilution Bags
Energy consumption in serial dilution workflows depends strongly on the materials used, the preparation method, and the local waste treatment system. Reusable glass tubes require repeated washing, drying, sterilisation and handling before they can be used again. Serial Dilution Bags, by contrast, are sterile single-use consumables made from a very small amount of polyethylene and require no washing or autoclaving before use.
The table below compares typical energy contributions for a reusable 15 g glass tube and a 250 mg polyethylene Serial Dilution Bag. The values are approximate and should be understood as indicative, as actual results depend on laboratory procedures, autoclave efficiency, batch size and local waste treatment.
| Feature | Test tube (15 g glass) | Serial Dilution Bag (250 mg polyethylene) |
| Material energy footprint | Distributed over repeated reuse | Approx. 20 – 25 kJ per bag based on virgin PE |
| Energy for washing | 3.6 – 5.4 kJ per tube | Not required before use |
| Energy for autoclaving | 5.4 – 10.8 kJ per tube | Not required before use |
| Total washing and autoclaving energy | 9 – 16.2 kJ per tube | Not required before use |
| Energy recovery by incineration | Not applicable | Up to approx. 5 – 8 kJ per bag, where efficient waste-to-energy systems are used |
| Estimated net energy per dilution | 9 – 16.2 kJ | Approx. 12 – 20 kJ, where energy recovery is available. |
| Recycling potential | Well-established at end of life, provided the glass is decontaminated and accepted by the recycling stream | Possible in principle for polyethylene, depending on contamination status, decontamination and local recycling options |
Reusable glass tubes can show a low direct energy footprint per dilution when washing and autoclaving are performed efficiently in large batches. However, this does not include the additional workflow effort required for cleaning, sterilisation, filling, storage and handling.
Serial Dilution Bags avoid these preparation steps entirely. Their material energy is linked mainly to the production of polyethylene, but the very low material weight keeps this contribution limited. Where waste-to-energy systems are used, part of this energy can be recovered during disposal. In principle, polyethylene is also recyclable, although recycling of used microbiological consumables depends on local biosafety requirements, decontamination procedures and waste management options.
For many laboratories, the main advantage of Serial Dilution Bags is therefore not only the energy balance itself, but the combination of reduced preparation work, lower water and detergent use, fewer handling steps, improved workflow standardisation and reduced risk of glass breakage. This makes them a practical and efficient alternative to traditional glass tubes for modern serial dilution workflows.
Comparative Overview: Glass Tubes vs. Serial Dilution Bags
Serial dilution workflows involve more than the dilution step itself. Preparation, cleaning, sterilisation, filling, storage, handling and quality assurance all contribute to the overall efficiency and reliability of the process.
The table below compares traditional reusable glass tubes with Serial Dilution Bags from an operational and environmental perspective. The aim is not to show that one solution is better in every situation, but to highlight where Serial Dilution Bags can simplify workflows and reduce preparation-related effort.
| Features | Traditional glass tubes | Serial Dilution Bags |
| Material waste | Low when reused many times, but breakage and replacement must be considered. | Low plastic mass per dilution due to the use of thin polyethylene bags. |
| Energy consumption | Requires repeated washing, drying and autoclaving. | No washing or autoclaving required; material energy depends on polyethylene production and disposal route. |
| Workflow efficiency | Requires preparation, cleaning, sterilisation, filling, storage and handling. | Ready to use; designed for automated serial dilution workflows. |
| Reliability | Depends on correct cleaning, sterilisation, filling and handling. | Sterile single-use bags reduce preparation-related variability; automated filling and mixing by the Inlabtec Serial Diluter support consistent dilution steps. |
| Quality assurance effort | Cleaning, sterilisation and filling processes must be controlled. | Lower QA effort for preparation: no cleaning, sterilisation or filling checks required. Initial method verification remains required when introducing the system. |
| Manual skill requirements | Requires tube handling, opening and closing, vortexing and organisation of prepared tubes. | Reduced manual handling through automated filling and mixing with the Inlabtec Serial Diluter. |
| Risk of injury | Glass breakage and repetitive handling can contribute to injury risk. | No glass breakage risk; reduced repetitive handling. |
| Cost factors | Includes labour, energy, water, detergents, breakage and preparation time. | Consumable cost per dilution, offset by savings in preparation time, handling effort and workflow efficiency. |
| Sustainability | Reusable, but resource-intensive during cleaning and sterilisation. | Single-use plastic, but with very low material mass and potential energy recovery depending on local waste treatment. |
| Environmental considerations | Water, detergents and energy are required for repeated reprocessing. | Plastic waste must be responsibly disposed of; recycling or energy recovery may be possible depending on local regulations. |
Reusable glass tubes remain a valid option, especially in laboratories with well-established cleaning and sterilisation workflows and low sample numbers. However, they require repeated preparation, filling, cleaning and sterilisation, and their performance depends on these steps being carried out consistently.
Serial Dilution Bags offer a different approach. They are sterile, ready to use and designed for automated serial dilution with Inlabtec Serial Diluters. This reduces manual preparation work, limits repetitive handling and supports a more standardised dilution process.
For laboratories processing serial dilutions regularly, the benefits become more relevant as daily sample numbers increase. Reduced preparation effort, lower risk of glass breakage, consistent handling from dilution to dilution and improved workflow efficiency make Serial Dilution Bags a practical alternative to traditional glass tubes.
«Works perfectly, very satisfied. Appealing, as there is little plastic waste.»
Kathrin Hauser, AGES Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety Ltd., Graz
«Unthinkable that test tubes are used again in our laboratory for dilutions.»
Alexandra Dostal, Cantonal Laboratory of Thurgau, Frauenfeld, Switzerland
More technical information about Serial Dilution Bags is available in the Support section.