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Small-diameter cylindrical tubes designed for use in performing laboratory tests. These devices are usually glass or plastic tubes with a rounded, conical, or flat closed bottom and an open top; they may include external threads for screw caps, marking spots, color codes, and/or graduated markings on the surface. Test tubes are available in a variety of sizes; they may be intended for reuse or as disposable (i.e., single use) devices. Some test tubes are made of special materials capable of withstanding high temperatures and/or repeated sterilization (i.e., autoclaving). Test tubes are used in clinical laboratories for procedures such as tissue culture, bacteriology, clinical chemistry, and blood typing
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