Star*Pac® bags are versatile, disposable bags for plant tissue culture. These bags are autoclavable growth and transport containers that provide gas exchange, yet retain moisture. The Star*Pac film is semipermeable, rather than porous, preventing microorganisms from passing through a heat-sealed bag.

Star*Pac bags support many applications, including:

• Plant tissue culture
• Germplasm preservation
• Long-term plant storage
• Bacterial and fungal cultures
• Plant transportation

Advantages of using Star*Pac bags:

• Space saving
• Prolonged culture storage:  plant cultures have survived for over a year with no maintenance under standard culture room conditions
• Easy and economical when transporting live plants
• Cost effective to ship in bulk compared to standard culture vessels (2,000 bags in one case vs. 100-250 vessels)

Instructions for filling (please see the Related Documents tab for more information):

1. Open the upper portion of the chamber with a slight twist between thumb and forefinger.
2. Insert the pipet into the opening and dispense the media (5-20 mL per chamber for the five chamber bag, or 50-100 mL for the two chamber bag).

Instructions for sterilization:

1. Insert 10-15 filled Star*Pac bags into a paper bag or other autoclavable, steam permeable container.
2. Fold the top of the bag down several times and seal with a piece of autoclave tape.
3. Load the autoclave with the paper bags and operate under customary settings for liquid sterilization (i.e., 121 °C @ 15 psi for 15 minutes). 
4. Post-autoclaving, the sealed bags should be taken to a clean counter, or hood, to allow the media to cool before use.

Instructions for sealing:

The recommended sealing method involves the use of an 8 or 12 inch heat sealer. The sealer should be left under the hood to ensure it remains in the aseptic work environment.

1. Have the unit turned on and ready to use prior to critical aseptic operations. The recommended heat setting for the unit is between 4 and 5, although the optimal setting may vary from instrument to instrument.
2. Lift the handle of the sealer and place the open end of the chambers across the sealing strip (the printing at the top can be used as a reference point for the seal).
3. Lower the handle of the heat sealer over the top of the Star*Pac bag.
4. To ensure a good seal, observe the red indicator light on the heat sealer. Do not lift the handle too quickly:  allow a few seconds for the seal to cool before lifting the handle.