Petri dishes are inexpensive, but the wrong surface or ventilation can ruin a culture before it starts. The three decisions that matter are: bacteriological or cell-culture treated, vented or non-vented, and sterile or non-sterile. Size and agar depth come next.
| Application | Dish type | Typical size |
|---|---|---|
| Bacterial streaking, colony counting | Bacteriological, vented | 90 mm |
| Mammalian cell culture | TC-treated, sterile | 35 / 60 / 100 mm |
| Small explants or imaging | Glass-bottom or 35 mm | 35 mm |
| Large-scale screening | Square or 150 mm | 100 / 150 mm |
Bacteriological dishes are untreated and are intended for microbial work. Cell-culture dishes are treated to make the surface hydrophilic so adherent mammalian cells attach and spread. Using an untreated dish for adherent cells leads to poor attachment and inconsistent growth.
Vented dishes allow gas exchange and reduce condensation during incubation. Non-vented dishes limit evaporation and are useful for long incubations or when a tight seal is needed. For routine bacterial plates, a vented 90 mm dish is the usual choice.
| Diameter | Typical agar volume | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| 35 mm | 2–3 mL | Imaging, small cultures |
| 60 mm | 5–8 mL | Small-scale cell work |
| 90 mm | 15–20 mL | Routine microbiology |
| 100 mm | 20–25 mL | Cell culture |
| 150 mm | 40–50 mL | Large plates, screening |
These are starting points. The exact volume depends on the application and the required agar depth; a consistent depth matters more than a precise total volume.
Pre-sterilised dishes are supplied by irradiation and are ready for use. Non-sterile dishes are suitable for general sample handling but not for culture. Check the pack format: sleeves of 10–20 dishes reduce handling, while bulk bags are more economical for high-volume plating.
We supply 35–150 mm dishes, including bacteriological and TC-treated formats, sterile and non-sterile. Tell us the application, size and pack format; we will confirm the available surface treatment and lead time.
Bacteriological dishes are untreated and used for microbial work. TC-treated dishes have a hydrophilic surface for adherent mammalian cells.
Vented dishes improve gas exchange and reduce condensation. Non-vented dishes limit evaporation for long incubations.
A common starting point is 15–20 mL. Keep the depth consistent across the batch; the exact volume depends on the protocol.
Sterile, irradiation-sterilised options are available. Non-sterile dishes are also supplied for general handling.
Glass-bottom dishes for imaging are available on request. Confirm the glass thickness and well format.
Tell us the sizes, quantities and sterility requirements. We reply within 2 hours on business days.
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