Petri Dish Guide: Uses, Types & How to Choose the Right One

What Is a Petri Dish?

A Petri dish is a shallow, cylindrical, lidded dish made primarily from glass or clear plastic. Designed for the culture of microorganisms, cells, or small plants, Petri dishes have become a symbol of modern microbiological research.

Named after the German bacteriologist Julius Richard Petri, this simple yet indispensable piece of lab equipment is used in virtually every microbiology lab around the world.

Common Uses of Petri Dishes

Petri dishes serve multiple functions in scientific and industrial laboratories. Here are the most common applications:

• Microbial Culture: Growing bacteria, fungi, and yeast on agar-based media.

• Cell Culture: Supporting the growth of mammalian or plant cells in research.

• Antibiotic Testing: Determining bacterial sensitivity to antibiotics (disc diffusion method).

• Environmental Sampling: Collecting and culturing airborne or surface microorganisms.

• Plant Germination: Observing seed growth and root development.

• Educational Demonstrations: Visualising microbial colonies in classrooms or STEM workshops.

Types of Petri Dishes

There are several types of Petri dishes available, each suited to specific applications:

1. Glass Petri Dishes

• Reusable and autoclavable.

• Typically used in academic or high-temperature applications.

• Better for sustainability, though they require cleaning and sterilisation.

2. Plastic Petri Dishes

• Made from polystyrene, these are usually single-use.

• Pre-sterilised and ready to use.

• Ideal for high-throughput labs or contamination-sensitive environments.

3. Vented Petri Dishes

• Feature small notches in the lid to allow for air exchange.

• Suitable for aerobic cultures.

4. Non-Vented Petri Dishes

• Seal tightly to minimise contamination or evaporation.

• Used for anaerobic cultures or long-term experiments.

5. Compartmentalised Petri Dishes

• Segmented to allow multiple samples or tests in the same dish.

• Commonly used in diagnostics and high-efficiency testing.

How to Choose the Right Petri Dish

When selecting a Petri dish, consider the following factors:

✔ Material

• Use glass for autoclaving and long-term reuse.

• Use plastic for sterile, disposable workflows.

✔ Size

• Standard diameters: 90 mm, 100 mm, and 150 mm.

• Smaller dishes are ideal for space-saving incubators; larger dishes support colony isolation or multiple assays.

✔ Sterility

• Opt for pre-sterilised dishes for clinical or sensitive microbiological work.

• Non-sterile options are more economical for less critical uses.

✔ Vented vs Non-Vented

• Choose vented for general use and aerobic cultures.

• Choose non-vented for anaerobic or moisture-sensitive samples.

✔ Stacking & Handling

• Look for stackable designs with ridge bases for better airflow and space-saving.

• Consider grip-friendly lids for easy, contamination-free handling.

Trusted Petri Dish Brands Available at LabFriend

At LabFriend, we offer a wide selection of premium-quality Petri dishes trusted by laboratories across Australia and New Zealand:

• BRAND – German-engineered plastic Petri dishes with high optical clarity.

• LLG Labware – Reliable sterile and non-sterile Petri dishes in various formats.

• ISOLAB Laborgeräte GmbH – Durable, reusable glass Petri dishes.

• Kartell – Economical and practical solutions for general laboratory use.

• Medline Scientific – Pre-sterile, single-use Petri dishes for research and diagnostics.

Whether you’re culturing bacteria, teaching microbiology, or managing a research lab, we have the right Petri dish for your workflow.

Tips for Handling and Storage

• Always work in a sterile environment (e.g., biosafety cabinet) to avoid contamination.

• Label dishes clearly with sample ID, date, and media type.

• Store unused sterile Petri dishes in cool, dry areas to preserve integrity.

• Dispose of used dishes according to your institution’s biohazard waste protocol.

Final Thoughts

Despite their simplicity, Petri dishes play a crucial role in advancing biological science. From classroom experiments to pharmaceutical research, they enable the controlled growth and observation of microorganisms and cells.

Choosing the right type based on size, sterility, and material can significantly impact your experiment’s success. At LabFriend, we supply a wide range of high-quality Petri dishes suitable for all lab environments, from entry-level education to advanced research labs.