Abstract: An apparatus and method are presented for drying and storing laboratory containers which significantly reduce the introduction of contaminants into the containers. A laboratory container system includes one or more containers and a rack for holding the containers in an inverted position. Each container has a base portion, a column portion, and a receptacle portion. A lateral dimension of the base portion is greater than that of the column portion. During use, a container is inverted, and the column portion is inserted between sides of a slot in a flat member of the rack. The spacing between the sides of the slot is sufficient to allow the column portion to pass therebetween, but not the base portion. As a result, the base portion of the container contacts an upper portion of both sides of the slot, and the container is suspended from the rack by the base portion in an inverted position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are presented for immersing an object in a liquid such that a lower surface of the object does not touch a bottom surface of a container. The apparatus includes a forceps for holding the object and a pin for limiting movement of the forceps in relation to the container. The forceps includes a pair of jaws having opposed surfaces used to grip the object. A hole dimensioned to receive the pin extends through the pair of oppose surfaces. The container is used to hold the liquid, and has an opening in an upper portion surrounded by a lip. The object is gripped between the opposed surfaces of the jaws, and the pin is inserted through the hole in the forceps. The forceps is positioned above the container, then lowered until the object enters the liquid and the pin contacts the lip of the container. The pin limits vertical downward movement of the forceps with respect to the container, preventing the lower surface of the object from touching the bottom surface of the container.