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Self Healing Injection Ports FAQ
What is included in each pack?
Each pack contains:
10 self-healing injection ports
Durable grey silicone construction
Protective packaging for storage and delivery
Jars, lids, syringe filters, needles and liquid cultures are not included unless purchased separately.
What is a self-healing injection port?
A self-healing injection port is a silicone fitting that creates a puncture point in a jar, bottle or container lid.
A sterile needle can pass through the silicone to inject or withdraw liquid. When the needle is removed, the silicone closes around the puncture, helping reduce the opportunity for airborne contamination to enter the container.
What are self-healing injection ports used for?
They are commonly used for:
Liquid-culture jar lids
Grain-spawn jars
Media bottles
Culture vessels
Custom mycology equipment
Laboratory-style inoculation projects
For growers who prefer a ready-to-use option, our 2 kg Sterilised Wheat Grain Bag is supplied with a self-healing injection port already fitted.
Are the injection ports supplied sterile?
The injection ports should not be treated as sterile directly from the packet.
Clean and sterilise the port as part of the completed jar, lid or container assembly before introducing it into sterile culture work. Avoid touching the puncture surface after sterilisation or preparation.
How are self-healing injection ports installed?
The ports use a push-fit design and should be fitted into an appropriately sized opening in the jar or container lid.
The opening should hold the silicone port securely without leaving gaps around its edges. Test the fit carefully before sterilising or filling the container.
A loose, damaged or poorly fitted port may allow unfiltered air to enter.
Can these injection ports be used on liquid-culture jars?
Yes. Self-healing injection ports are commonly fitted to liquid-culture jar lids.
A modified liquid-culture lid will usually contain:
One self-healing injection port for adding or withdrawing culture
One 13 mm 0.22 micron syringe filter for filtered gas exchange
The injection port and syringe filter perform different functions and are normally used together.
Do I still need a syringe filter?
A syringe filter is recommended when the jar requires filtered gas exchange.
The injection port provides access for the needle but does not provide controlled airflow. The syringe filter allows gases to move through the lid while helping reduce the entry of airborne particles.
Do not puncture the membrane of the syringe filter with an inoculation needle.
What type of needle can be used with the ports?
The ports can be punctured using a suitable sterile inoculation needle.
Our 16G Sterile Syringe Needles provide a wider bore for thicker liquid cultures, while our 18G Sterile Syringe Needles provide controlled flow for standard liquid-culture inoculation.
Always use a clean, sterile needle and avoid repeatedly puncturing exactly the same point.
How should the injection port be used?
Before inoculation:
Allow the sterilised container to cool completely.
Wipe the surface of the injection port with an appropriate disinfectant.
Allow the surface to dry.
Attach a sterile needle to the syringe.
Insert the needle carefully through the centre of the port.
Inject or withdraw the required amount.
Remove the needle without twisting or enlarging the puncture.
Do not remove the lid during inoculation.
Can self-healing injection ports be reused?
Yes. The silicone ports are reusable, provided they remain clean, securely fitted and undamaged.
Inspect the port before each new project. Repeated needle punctures and sterilisation cycles can eventually weaken the silicone or create a permanent opening.
Use a fresh sterile needle for each unrelated culture or inoculation project to help reduce cross-contamination.
When should an injection port be replaced?
Replace the port if you notice:
Visible splitting or cracking
A puncture that no longer closes
Looseness around the lid opening
Permanent deformation
Contamination around or beneath the port
Leaking liquid or unfiltered air
Damage caused by repeated needle use
Do not continue using a port when its seal is uncertain.
Can the injection port prevent all contamination?
No. A self-healing injection port helps reduce exposure by allowing inoculation without opening the container, but successful sterile work still depends on:
Properly sterilised media and containers
A securely fitted port
A sterile needle
Clean hands and working surfaces
Correct inoculation technique
Healthy, uncontaminated mushroom liquid culture
An injection port cannot make contaminated culture, grain or equipment clean.
How should unused injection ports be stored?
Store unused ports:
Inside their original packaging
In a clean, dry location
Away from direct sunlight
Away from excessive heat
Protected from dust and moisture
Away from strong chemicals and vapours
Prepare and sterilise them appropriately before sterile culture work.
Where are the self-healing injection ports shipped from?
Each order contains 10 self-healing silicone injection ports, carefully packed and shipped directly from Ireland.
Fast shipping is available to customers across Ireland, the UK, Europe, the United States and Canada.
