ISO 24998:2008

Overview - ISO 24998:2008 (Plastics laboratory ware - Single‑use Petri dishes)

ISO 24998:2008 defines requirements and test methods for plain, single‑use Petri dishes made of transparent plastic for microbiological procedures. The standard covers design, materials, dimensions, performance, contamination limits, packaging and marking for dishes intended to receive poured microbiological media. It explicitly excludes dishes for cell/tissue culture and dishes supplied pre‑loaded with media.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & types
  • Applies to single‑use plastic Petri dishes for routine microbiology (not for cell/tissue culture or pre‑filled dishes).
  • Four types: A (circular, no dividers), B (circular, with dividers), C (square, no dividers), D (square, with dividers).
• Materials & appearance
  • Made from microbiologically inert transparent plastic; may be self‑coloured for batch ID.
  • Finished items must be free from discoloration, striations or defects that impair use.
• Design & dimensions
  • Nominal external sizes include common diameters/lengths (e.g., 60 mm, 90 mm, 100 mm, 140 mm, 100×100 mm, 120×120 mm) with specified height and clearance ranges.
  • Lid rim limited to ≤ 1 mm; divider height between 50%–100% of dish height.
• Venting
  • Optional venting protrusions in lid; single vents: 0.12–0.35 mm height; multiple vents: 0.25–0.7 mm. Venting must be marked with a “V”.
• Performance tests
  • Rigidity: lid deformation ≤ 1 mm; dish deformation ≤ 2 mm (Annex A method).
  • Thermal distortion: must retain flatness and not rock after heat exposure (Annex B).
  • Resistance to fracture: lids withstand 9.81 N; dishes 7.36 N without fracture (Annex C).
  • Stacking stability: stack of 10 must tolerate 12° tilt without collapse (Annex D).
• Contamination & sterility
  • Free from loose particles >100 µm on visual inspection under 300–750 lx illumination.
  • If claimed sterile, sterilization must be validated by the manufacturer (references: ISO 11137‑1, ISO 17665‑1).
• Packaging & marking
  • Supplied assembled in sealed bags (max 30 dishes/bag); polyethylene film bags ≥ 70 µm recommended.
  • Primary packaging must include manufacturer, product description (shape, size, venting, compartments), LOT, expiry/use‑by, sterility statement if applicable, storage/handling instructions.

Applications and users

• Practical for microbiology labs, clinical diagnostics, QA/QC, food testing, water testing, and manufacturers of laboratory consumables.
• Useful to regulatory affairs, procurement teams, product designers and QA engineers who need to ensure compatibility with robotic handling, aseptic pouring of media and safe storage/transport.
• Helps manufacturers demonstrate compliance and end users select Petri dishes meeting dimensional, mechanical and microbiological integrity expectations.

Related standards

• ISO 11137‑1 (Radiation sterilization validation)
• ISO 17665‑1 (Moist heat sterilization)
• ISO 14644 (Cleanrooms and controlled environments)

Keywords: ISO 24998:2008, single‑use Petri dishes, plastics laboratory ware, microbiological procedures, sterility, venting, rigidity, packaging, laboratory consumables.