If you work in a laboratory that deals with cryogenic samples, you may have wondered what’s the difference between cryogenic vials and regular vials. Cryogenic vials and regular vials are both types of containers that are used to store samples in laboratories. However, they have some differences in their design, material, and application that make them suitable for different purposes.
In this blog post, we will explain the difference between cryogenic vials and regular vials, and why you should choose the right type of vial for your cryogenic samples. By the end of this post, you will have a better understanding of how to safely and effectively store your cryogenic samples in the appropriate containers.
What are Cryogenic Vials?
Cryogenic vials are specially designed containers that can withstand ultra-low temperatures, such as those in liquid nitrogen storage (-196°C). Liquid nitrogen is one of the most commonly used cryogenic liquids in research labs, as it can preserve biological, genomic, and diagnostic samples at very low temperatures. However, liquid nitrogen also poses some challenges and hazards for lab workers, especially when it comes to choosing the right containers and materials for storage.
Cryogenic vials are made from non-cytotoxic and non-mutagenic plastic resins, such as polypropylene or polycarbonate, that have high impact resistance, low thermal expansion, good chemical resistance, and good biocompatibility. They have screw-style closures that ensure the caps stay on in spite of temperature and air pressure changes. They can have either internal or external threads. External threads help maintain the sterility of samples, as the caps fit over the outsides of the tubes. They usually have flat bottoms, as they need to fit inside long tubes or canes during storage.
Cryogenic vials are widely used for storing biological samples in liquid nitrogen, such as cells, tissues, DNA, RNA, proteins, antibodies, enzymes, etc. They can also be used for storing other types of samples that require ultra-low temperatures, such as chemicals, drugs, or metals.
What are Regular Vials?
Regular vials are general-purpose containers that are used to store samples in laboratories. They can be made from glass or plastic, depending on the type of sample and the storage conditions. Glass vials are more resistant to heat and chemicals than plastic vials, but they are also more fragile and prone to breakage. Plastic vials are more durable and lightweight than glass vials, but they may leach substances or react with some samples.
Regular vials can have different types of closures, such as snap caps, crimp caps, or screw caps. They may or may not have threads. They can have round bottoms or skirted bottoms, depending on the type of sample and the storage device.
Regular vials are usually used for storing samples at room temperature or refrigerated temperatures. They can be used for storing various types of samples, such as liquids, solids, powders, pellets, crystals, etc.
Why Choose the Right Type of Vial for Your Cryogenic Samples?
Choosing the right type of vial for your cryogenic samples is important for several reasons:
- Safety: Using regular vials for cryogenic samples can pose serious safety risks for lab workers and samples. Regular vials may become brittle or crack at extremely low temperatures, causing leaks or spills of liquid nitrogen or samples. This can result in cold burns, frostbite, eye damage, contamination, or loss of samples.
- Quality: Using regular vials for cryogenic samples can compromise the quality or viability of samples. Regular vials may not provide adequate protection from temperature fluctuations or air exposure that can affect the stability or integrity of samples. Regular vials may also leach substances or react with samples that can alter their properties or functions.
- Performance: Using regular vials for cryogenic samples can affect the performance or accuracy of experiments or tests. Regular vials may not fit well with cryogenic storage devices or equipment that can cause misalignment or malfunction. Regular vials may also interfere with sample identification or retrieval that can cause errors or delays.
Therefore, it is essential to use cryogenic vials for cryogenic samples to ensure safety, quality, and performance.
Conclusion
Cryogenic vials and regular vials are both types of containers that are used to store samples in laboratories. However, they have some differences in their design, material, and application that make them suitable for different purposes.
Cryogenic vials are specially designed containers that can withstand ultra-low temperatures (-196°C). They are made from non-cytotoxic and non-mutagenic plastic resins that have high impact resistance, low thermal expansion, good chemical resistance, and good biocompatibility. They have screw-style closures that ensure the caps stay on in spite of temperature and air pressure changes. They usually have flat bottoms, as they need to fit inside long tubes or canes during storage. They are widely used for storing biological samples in liquid nitrogen, such as cells, tissues, DNA, RNA, proteins, antibodies, enzymes, etc.
Regular vials are general-purpose containers that are used to store samples at room temperature or refrigerated temperatures. They can be made from glass or plastic, depending on the type of sample and the storage conditions. They can have different types of closures, such as snap caps, crimp caps, or screw caps. They may or may not have threads. They can have round bottoms or skirted bottoms, depending on the type of sample and the storage device. They can be used for storing various types of samples, such as liquids, solids, powders, pellets, crystals, etc.
Choosing the right type of vial for your cryogenic samples is important for safety, quality, and performance. Therefore, it is essential to use cryogenic vials for cryogenic samples and avoid using regular vials for cryogenic samples.
