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MTC Bio EmbryoGuard™ MEA Tested Tubes
MTC Bio EmbryoGuard™ MEA Tested Tubes are a purpose-built line of centrifuge tubes designed for laboratories performing sensitive reproductive biology applications where the biological compatibility of plasticware is critical. Available in 5mL, 14mL, 15mL, and 50mL formats, every tube in the EmbryoGuard™ line has been tested using the Mouse Embryo Assay (MEA) — the established gold standard bioassay for confirming that laboratory plasticware is safe for use in embryology, IVF research, and other embryo-sensitive workflows.
What Is the Mouse Embryo Assay (MEA)? The Mouse Embryo Assay is the definitive biological test for evaluating the embryotoxicity of labware materials. In the MEA, mouse embryos are cultured in direct contact with the test material or an extract thereof, and embryo development is monitored over time. Materials that pass the MEA demonstrate that leachable compounds from the plastic do not impair embryo cleavage, blastulation, or developmental progression at levels that would be encountered in normal laboratory use. For IVF clinics, embryology core facilities, and reproductive biology research labs, MEA-tested consumables are a fundamental quality requirement — not a preference. Every lot of EmbryoGuard™ tubes is tested and certified to MEA standards, with a Certificate of MEA compliance available for full lot traceability.
Why Standard Tubes Are Not Enough for Embryo-Sensitive Work Standard laboratory centrifuge tubes — even those that are sterile, RNase-free, and DNase-free — are not necessarily manufactured to the purity levels required for embryo-sensitive applications. Plasticizers, mold-release agents, antioxidants, and other residual processing compounds that have no measurable effect on robust established cell lines can be profoundly detrimental to embryo development and viability. A tube that performs perfectly for routine molecular biology or general cell culture may introduce embryotoxic leachables at concentrations that impair fertilization, cleavage, or blastocyst formation. EmbryoGuard™ tubes are manufactured from high-purity plastics specifically selected and validated to minimize biological impact — providing the safety margin required for the most demanding reproductive medicine workflows.
Four Formats — One Trusted Standard The EmbryoGuard™ line covers the full range of tube formats used in IVF and reproductive biology labs:
- M6205 — 5mL: The smallest format in the line, ideal for small-volume media handling, reagent and enzyme aliquoting, sperm sample preparation, and any workflow step where a standard 5mL conical tube is the appropriate vessel. MEA-tested assurance extends to every small-volume handling step in the workflow.
- M6212 — 14mL: Designed for culture and transport applications, mid-volume density gradient centrifugation, and sperm processing procedures requiring slightly more volume than the 5mL format. Bridges the gap between the 5mL and standard 15mL formats for applications where a full 15mL tube would result in unnecessary volume overhead.
- M6215 — 15mL: The standard conical format — the most universally used tube size in cell biology and reproductive medicine — now available with MEA-tested biological safety assurance. Ideal for cell pelleting and processing, media preparation and aliquoting, washing steps, and routine sample handling throughout the IVF and reproductive biology workflow. Fully compatible with all standard centrifuge rotors and tube racks.
- M6250 — 50mL: The large-volume format for bulk media preparation, density gradient centrifugation for sperm selection (Percoll®, PureSperm®, and other gradient media), large-scale cell processing and washing steps, and any reproductive medicine workflow step requiring the full 50mL conical tube format. Brings MEA-tested assurance to the scale at which IVF labs most commonly prepare media and run density gradients.
Sterile. RNase-Free. DNase-Free. Pyrogen-Free. In addition to MEA testing, every EmbryoGuard™ tube is sterile, RNase-free, DNase-free, and pyrogen-free — meeting the full suite of biological safety specifications required for sensitive reproductive biology and stem cell applications. Sterility is confirmed for every production lot.
For IVF Clinics, Embryology Labs, and Reproductive Biology Research EmbryoGuard™ tubes are suited for the full spectrum of embryo-sensitive laboratory applications: IVF (in vitro fertilization) research and clinical workflows, assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures, mouse and human embryo culture, sperm preparation and selection, embryo culture media preparation, stem cell culture and expansion, reproductive toxicology studies, and any other sensitive cell culture or embryology application where the biological compatibility of every consumable in contact with the sample must be documented and verified.
Contact LIGHT LABS at sales@lightlabsusa.com or 1-800-286-3103 for quantity pricing or to request MEA compliance certificates for specific lot numbers.