What Are Strata Tubes?
Strata tubes are cartridge-like containers filled with solid sorbent material. They are designed to trap unwanted substances or extract desired analytes from liquid samples. Commonly manufactured by brands like Phenomenex, these tubes are engineered for single-use applications in order to guarantee reproducible, accurate results.
Are Strata Tubes Reusable?
In most professional and regulatory lab environments—such as pharmaceuticals, forensics, and food safety—Strata tubes are not reused. This is because:
Reuse increases the risk of cross-contamination
Sorbent material may degrade or become clogged
Recovery rates and flow rates may vary
It may violate Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)
However, in academic or low-risk research environments, some labs may attempt limited re-use to save costs.
Cleaning Method for Non-Critical Reuse
If your lab allows re-use under controlled, non-regulated conditions, here’s a general cleaning method:
Step 1: Flush with Organic Solvent
Use solvents such as methanol, acetonitrile, or ethyl acetate to dissolve and remove organic contaminants from the tube. Run the solvent in the same direction as the sample flow.
Step 2: Rinse with Distilled Water
Rinse thoroughly with distilled or deionized water to remove any leftover solvent.
Step 3: Reverse Rinse (Optional)
If possible, flush the tube in the reverse direction to help unclog particles trapped in the sorbent bed.
Step 4: Dry with Nitrogen or Vacuum
Allow the tube to air dry or use a nitrogen stream or vacuum manifold to remove moisture completely.
Step 5: Inspect
Check the tube for:
Physical damage
Compacted sorbent
Discoloration or unusual residue
If any issues are present, discard the tube.
Warning: This cleaning method is not suitable for regulated environments or critical assays.
When Not to Clean or Reuse Strata Tubes
You should never attempt to clean or reuse a Strata tube if:
You're working with trace-level detection
You're in a regulated laboratory
The tube is visibly clogged or damaged
You're analyzing samples with high purity requirements
In such cases, always use a new, sterile tube to ensure accuracy and safety.
Summary
Strata tubes are primarily designed for single-use to ensure analytical precision.
Cleaning may be done only in non-critical settings, using solvents and water rinses.
Reuse introduces variability and risk, and is not advised for validated or sensitive applications.
Final Thought
While it may be tempting to reuse Strata tubes to cut costs, doing so can compromise your results. When accuracy, compliance, and repeatability matter, always choose a new tube. The reliability of your analysis depends on the quality and cleanliness of every component—especially the one doing the extraction.
