Glass and Plastic Vials

Individuals that have never stepped foot in a laboratory can imagine what it’s like in a lab. Those individuals probably imagine work stations with test tubes and glass vials. The imagery probably involves multi-colored mixtures, bubbling over flames. The produced steam being collected in the tubing connected to the closure device on the top of each tube. The tubing leading around the room with curves and spirals leading to a small flask where single drops at a time begin dripping into the flask. A mad scientist with horribly curly grey hair and a coffee stained lab coat enters the room and takes a swig of the strange brew dripping into the beaker, doubling over, foaming at the mouth and finally turning into that famously horrible Mister Hyde. glass vials and tubes are very common in lab settings for a number of reasons.

It’s not always about producing the mad scientists brew, but about cryogenics, lyophilization and cell culture. It’s about performing tests and experiments to find answers. Many times the samples and specimens are difficult to obtain and equipmPlaent malfunction or container quality might contaminate or damage the sample. At Wheaton, we have an established reputation for quality and tremendous respect and admiration for those that pursue and dedicate their lives to science. In terms of vials, Wheaton offers a variety of glass options. There are also a number of plastic vials that you may wish to consider as well.

Glass versus Plastic

Wheaton’s plastic selection provides vials that weigh less and are more resistant to damage. Glass containers are… well, glass. Glass not only breaks, but can also chip into very small flakes. These flakes can be hard to detect and sit in a mixture undetected until some unfortunate incident occurs where someone pours out the mixture, solution or whatever and the glass flakes cause damage. The damage would vary depending on where the contents containing the glass flakes were poured. One such example being if a pipette was used to extract a sample from the glass vial with small glass flakes in it and the sample was placed on a slide for a microscope. If a smear was performed, the glass flakes could cause scratches on the slide. Given the nature of lab work however, I’m sure that everyone knows how to safely handle glassware.

The plastic vials come sterile; however can only withstand temps up to 249.8 degrees Fahrenheit so the manner by which your lab sterilizes equipment should be considered. The glass vials will be more resistant to the higher temps of a steam autoclave than the plastic. Considering how many sterilization options there are that do not involve heat, like Steris or other chemical sterilization techniques, you may want to take the time to really decide if glass or plastic will be best for your lab.

Who Vial, What Vial, Where Vial, Blue Vial

One more solution Wheaton offers for your laboratory needs is a method for tracking your vials. When purchasing Wheaton’s CryoElite freestanding vials, there is also the optional 2D Data Matrix Bar Code Inserts. These inserts allow for the immediate bar coding of your samples by sitting on the bottom of the vial. A bar code scanner can be used to catalog the individual vial you are using. If you are using multiple vials there is a storage solution for them in the KeepIT storage box that has an open-bottomed design. This design works very well with the bar code readers intended for use with the open-bottomed design that can read the individual bar code insert of each vial stored in the box. The bar code scanners are capable of scanning 1D and 2D bar codes. The important message being however, that the bar code inserts and scanners function with either plastic or glass vials.

Vials of all Types

The Wheaton selection of glass and plastic vials is enormous. The glass tubular vials are available with screw or crimped closures and also available in amber tint for samples or products that have ultraviolet sensitivity. The plastic Wheaton Elite packaging vials exceed the DOT standards by an average of 35% making them ideal for the transport of your products. The plastic vials come with either free standing or rounded bottom options and offer either internal or external threading options as well. Wheaton’s selection of Sample Vials are packaged in partitioned trays that provide an easy way to inventory samples or store empty vials. They’re available in different sizes, clear or amber and available packaged with screw caps sold separately, truly, a vial for all occasions.

Your Lab and Wheaton

Wheaton has enormous respect and admiration for those that dedicate their lives to science. The laboratory is a critical environment in both educational and commercial settings. No matter what the purpose, what your lab uses as equipment reflects how much you care about your scientific endeavors. At Wheaton, we have been supplying and manufacturing equipment for lab use for 125 years. We have a solidified reputation in the scientific community. A former President of the United States gave our keynote address at our centennial celebration. At Wheaton, we want you to do well in all your endeavors and with these best wishes want to offer you the best equipment possible. Take a look at our product line of glass and plastic vials and we hope you will be pleasantly surprised.