Polypropylene screw top vials (Item# 9502S-PP-CLEAR) are not tested for metal content. However, we would expect it to be low since metals are not used in the manufacturing process. Since the vial are not tested and after opening the package in environments with metals we can’t guarantee the vials to be metal free. Screw top caps (Item# 9502S-30C-B) are manufactured free […]
Category: Vials & Caps General FAQ
Are polypropylene vials suited to avoiding vial adsorption issues with proteins compared to normal glass?
Yes, polypropylene as a vial material is a good choice for protein analysis because normal borosilicate glass vials are known to adosrb some types of analytes such as proteins, peptides, and amines. This leads to lower recovery and is caused by silanols on the glass surface. Polypropylene does not have these groups and therefore adsorption is not an […]
Are RSA Autosampler Vials Pyrogen Free?
The RSA™ or Reduced Surface Activity autosampler vials are Pyrogen Free when manufactured as they are produced sterile and are never touched by “human hands”. They are then packaged, including shrink wrapped in a sterile, class 100,000 clean room environment. We do not classify these vials as Sterile for sale since the packaging is not sterilized […]
Are septa in autosampler vial caps self sealing, inert and compatible with organic solvents?
All of our septa are self-sealing and lined with PTFE or other fluoropolymer for inertness. These solvents do not present a compatibility issue but acetonitrile and ethers are very volatile and may evaporate after a single use or piercing of the septa. You may need to replace the cap after an injection if you need […]
Are the AQ™ Advanced Quality brand of LCMS vials compatible with DMSO?
DMSO is not considered reactive towards any polypropylene vial product. Still, one should always be aware of the possibility when using DMSO with laboratory plastic that under some conditions, extractables from the plastic could result and show up as ghost peaks in the HPLC runs. There are many factors that can affect the likelihood of extractables forming, which […]
Are the MS-compatible polypropylene vials (Cat No. 9532S-MS) hydrophobic or hydrophilic?
The vial is made of MS-compatible polypropylene, which consists only of repeating hydrocarbon monomer units: These polymers have no polar or ionizable groups so the polypropylene vials are hydrophobic. A primary reason one might use these vials is to avoid undesirable properties of hydrophilic silanols on conventional borosilicate glass vials is their hydrophobicity. The silanolic groups […]
Are the RSA Vial Write-On Patches Ceramic or Painted?
RSA™ vials, both Amber and Clear are supplied with the Write-On Patches are Ceramic and NOT an Epoxy Paint. Lower quality brands vials are supplied with Painted Patches using Epoxy paint, to keep the cost lower but the problem with it is they out-gas while in the packages which causes contamination for some. If you […]
Are the RSA™ Vials ISO Certified?
No, the RSA™ Vials and Inserts do not come with an ISO Certification. However, the process with which the vials are manufactured is ISO certified. A certificate of QC Conformance for RSA Vials or Inserts is available upon request. Please contact Customer Service for Assistance to obtain the Certificate. More information about RSA Vials
Are your HPLC and GC autosampler vials & caps sealed from outside moisture?
The vials & caps are designed for general HPLC or GC applications. Criteria of quality for BASIK™ and MicroSolv™ Brands include suitable fit for the autosampler (not jamming during injections, etc.) and being contaminant-free from the manufacturing process. Quality criteria for AQ™ Brand includes advanced testing by HPLC and LCMS and criteria for AQ™ Brand with […]
Autoclaving Inserts with Plastic Springs is Not Recommended.
Autoclaving glass or plastic Inserts with Attached Plastic Springs is not recommended. While the glass can withstand temperatures up to 1,000°F, the Polyethylene Spring will become deformed, may crack and will lose its functionality. You can Sterilize these Inserts through Ethylene Oxide Gas Sterilization. Inserts Product Page
Autosampler Vials sold by MicroSolv will Fit Your Instruments.
All Autosampler Vials sold by MicroSolv will fit commercially available modern HPLC Autosamplers. During the vial manufacturing processes, opto-electronic devices in the Vial converting machines check within fractions of a second to ensure the processed Vials meet the physical specifications (fit and form, dimension, etc.). In the case of a mismatch, the vial is blown […]
Can amber or clear polypropylene vials be sterilized with autoclaving or ethylene oxide?
Polypropylene autosampler vials 9502S-PP-Clear or 9502S-PP-Amber should not be autoclaved becuase they may warp during heating. However, you can use ethylene oxide gas to sterilize the vials if you do not exceed 120°C. More Information about Polypropylene Vials
Can I sterilize screw caps for autosamplers that have silicone/PTFE septa?
Yes, if you use heat/steam or gamma irradiation, the MicroSolv™ and the BASIK™ brands of 8mm, 9mm and 10mm screw caps can be sterilized or autoclaved for up to 15 minutes. Autosampler Vial Information
Can your all silicone cap mats be sterilized using 121°C, 15-30 minutes at 16-17 psi?
Yes, the silicone cap mats can be sterilized using heat at 121°C for 15-30 minutes at 16-17 psi.
Do you have a tear off crimp cap that is also magnetic?
We do not offer a magnetic tear off cap at this time because it requires aluminum (a metal soft) allow easy tearing of the cap and it is not magnetic. The magnetic material used in crimp caps is not soft enough to tear. Crimp Cap Product Page
Does deactivation process of RSA-Pro autosampler vials add any chlorides to the glass surface?
No, the RSA-Pro surface treatments used do not add chlorides. Click HERE for Autosampler Vials, Caps, Inserts & Accessory Ordering Information
Effects of washing and re-using autosampler vials on HPLC data
As reported by Thermo, some laboratories may try to save money by washing their used autosampler vials and reusing them. However, these products are designed to be disposable and reuse can cause numerous QC issues, such as contaminant peaks, sample loss, and physical deformations on the glass surface. Here a clear, clean vial shows virtually no peaks in […]
Effects of washing and re-using autosampler vials on sample loss
As reported by Thermo, laboratories may try to save money by washing their used autosampler vials and reusing them. However, these products are designed to be disposable and reuse can cause numerous QC issues, such as contaminant peaks, sample loss, and physical deformations on the glass surface. Here a variety of vials are tested for sample loss. Only […]
Effects of washing and re-using autosampler vials on the glass surface
As reported by Thermo Scientific, some budget minded laboratories may try to save money by washing their used autosampler vials and reusing them. However, these products are designed to be disposable and reuse can cause numerous QC issues, such as contaminant peaks, sample loss, and physical deformations on the glass surface. In these microscopy images, you can […]
Have the amber autosampler vials changed color compared to earlier batches?
The amber vials catalog # 9502S-PP-AMBER have been discontinued due to instabilities in the material which was causing color changes. These items have been replaced with catalog # 9502S-PP-AM. You may notice the newer vials are more opaque. Click HERE for 9502S-PP-AM Ordering Information
How “tight” should an autosampler vial cap be to prevent “push-through” of the septa during injection?
For application of autosampler vial screw caps, “tight” could refer to torque applied to the cap during application of the closure to the vial or the ability to hold a seal and not allow evaporation. For purposes of this discussion, we will refer to “tight” as how much downward force is needed for the cap to push the […]
How are your polypropylene vials & inserts for LC-MS different from those of other manufacturers?
These plastic vials and inserts are made with “ultra-virgin” polypropylene and are specifically suited for LC-MS. What this means is that the material is made of a proprietary polymer which is free of extractables that could cause baseline noise in LC-MS analyses. The plastic is not recycled and is not re-processed. Many other manufacturers use mold release […]
How can I minimize bubble formation with limited volume vials?
Vials with small volume internal ID are designed to allow the user to use most of the sample which may be too low for the injection needle to reach with standard, flat-bottom vials. One drawback, is that filling microvials can lead to bubble formation in some cases requiring the user to physically shake the bubble […]
How is the amber color produced in the polypropylene/glass amber autosampler vials?
The amber color present in some of the autosampler vials is created by organic or inorganic pigments or dyes. In glass vials, the amber color is from iron oxide (Fe2O3), added in less than 1% concentration. In plastic (polypropylene) vials, the color is produced from a proprietary organic compound present in mostly less than 0.1% […]
I see black spots in my amber vials. Can they be a source of contamination?
These spots are most likely the remnants of the vial-forming process and are comprised of amber glass and trapped air. When two different QC tests are run on these vials it verifies that these types of spots do not cause any adverse effects in performance. The results of both an HPLC test and an expert microscopy […]
In a cap that contains a butyl rubber/PTFE septa, which direction does the PTFE membrane face?
The PTFE (Teflon) part of the septa faces the sample (i.e. faces toward the vial when placed on the cap). If you have any doubt if the septa is inserted into the cap properly, the rule of thumb is that the colored (often red) is PTFE and the butyl rubber component is usually white or […]
In a cap that contains a Silicone/aluminum septa, which direction does the aluminum membrane face?
The aluminum part of the septa faces the sample (i.e. faces toward the vial when placed on the cap). Autosampler Vials, Inserts & Caps
In a cap that contains a Silicone/PTFE septa, which direction does the PTFE membrane face?
The PTFE (Teflon) part of the septa faces the sample (i.e. faces toward the vial when placed on the cap). If you have any doubt if the septa is inserted into the cap properly, the rule of thumb is that the colored (often red) and the silicone rubber component is usually white or clear. If […]
In Order to Prevent Gas Venting from a Closed Autosampler Vial Cap, should I use Snap, Crimp, or Screw Cap?
The Crimp Cap provides the best Quality Seal for the longest duration, but only if the Crimping Tool that is used to create the seal is Calibrated Properly and the user performs a quality crimp. To maintain adequate calibration for crimping tools, you should re-calibrate every 10-15 Crimps and verify a Good Seal is produced […]
Is formic acid compatible with borosilicate glass? – FAQ
Formic acid is generally compatible with borosilicate glass. There are two aspects that one needs to be mindful of when storing formic acid in glass vials or inserts. Formic acid gradually decomposes to carbon monoxide (CO) and water building up pressure inside the container. The warmer the solution the faster the process. Therefore, formic acid is […]
Is the PTFE in the screw cap 9509S-10C-B “cast” or “skived”?
The PTFE is “cast” for the AQR™ septa in the screw caps which includes our catalog number 9509S-10C-B as well as many other AQR brand screw and snap caps. It is much easier to control the quality of “cast” PTFE over the “skived” PTFE which results in much better reliability and performance from batch to batch. The […]
Screw and Snap Cap Evaporation Studies
Evaporation of solvent from the autosampler vial can be a significant issue for samples that are left out for several days before analysis. The evaporation can change the concentration of analytes in solution and cause quantitative errors. For these reasons, it is important to know what factors affect evaporation. The volatility of the solvent is […]
Silicone rubber in septa for autosampler vials vary in the way it is made.
Silicone rubber is the backbone of most modern septa for chromatography vial caps. But the way the silicone is made will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and even within the same manufacturer or brand. During the manufacturing process, silicone rubber must be “cured” when it is cross-linked to produce the desired physical properties needed for […]
Troubleshooting: Fused Insert Vials Break During Injection.
When injecting Samples using Fused Insert Glass Vials, sometimes the Needle hits the Insert Wall, causing it to break. Is this due to the Inserts not being Properly Aligned, vertically? This problem is more likely due to the Needle not being Properly Aligned vertically; this can occur for a number of reasons, which may include: […]
Understanding Deactivating or Silanizing Glass Vial & Insert Surfaces for Chromatography.
To deactivate glass vials and inserts to minimize adsorption of proteins, peptides and other compounds for laboratory use, a “coating” process using a silicone oil dispersed in a solvent is commonly used. This “mechanically” coated surface of the glass is commonly called “silanizing the glass”. All of MicroSolv’s Deactivated Glass is coated via a superior improved process called “Reactive Organosilane Bonding” which uses a reactive silane monomer or […]
What are Soft-Guard™ Septa?
Soft-Guard™ septa are used in HPLC, GC, LCMS or GCMS for autosampler vials when a quality value is desired. Soft-Guard™ septa are made with a unique formulation of high purity silicone rubber and cast PTFE to minimize extractables often found in septa that can cause interfering peaks which lowers the quality of your data. Along […]
What are the temperature specifications of the autosampler vial storage boxes and caps (catalog # 9504SB-03)?
This item is temperature resistant in the range -80°C to +100°C. Click HERE for Storage Box for 15x45mm autosampler vial Ordering Information.
What does Residual Volume mean with Autosampler Vials?
The syringe needle of an autosampler does not go all the way to the bottom of a vial during injection, and therefore some sample will always remain in the vial. This is referred to as the Residual Volume of the Autosampler Vial. Some Vials have a tapered bottom for example, which decreases the Residual Volume. […]
What Does the Specification 9-425mm for Screw Top Autosampler Vials Mean? – FAQ
The first number refers to the “Major Diameter” of the Screw Thread, (Major Diameter is the OD / outside diameter of the screw top vial (not the OD of the vial) at the thread line, measuring on the outside of the threads, Minor Diameter is the smaller diameter, measuring OD between the threads). We use […]
What Force is Required for a Needle to Pierce a Septa in your Autosampler Caps?
The MicroSolv Brand, 9mm Screw Cap Requires 3.1 pounds of Force to Puncture. The MSQ™ Brand Silicone/PTFE Septa requires 3.8 pounds of Force to Puncture.
What is a 9-425 Vial?
Screw top vials and caps that are designed to fit modern autosamplers used in HPLC and GC. Most autosamplers today require a tight tolerance on the fit and form of the autosampler vials and caps. Our engineers have developed a vial and cap system that not only fits most autosamplers, they have instituted an automated […]
What is the Difference between 45 Shore A and 55 Shore A Septa?
“Shore” is a measure of the hardness of a material, named after Albert F. Shore. The letter designates the “scale,” which specifies what type of substance is described. In this case, A refers to flexible mold rubbers/plastics. The numbers go from 0 to 100, with 0 being the softest and 100 being the hardest. Hence, cap septa with […]
What is the difference in specifications between Type 33 and Type N51A expansion borosilicate glass vials?
There is an ASTM method that exists and defines what properties the glass must have in order to be called 33 or 51. Ions Type I Class A clear glass(33) Type I Amber (51) Na 0.3-0.5 0.4-1.4 K ND ND-0.02 Ca ND ND-0.1 Mg ND Al ND ND-0.5 Fe ND ND Ba ND ND-0.2 […]
What is the internal diameter of the opening for 8mm crimp top BASIK Brand autosampler vials?
The ID of the opening for 8mm crimp top MicroSolv BASIK vials, catalog numbers 9508C-FB08-CV, 9508C-FB12-CV, and 9508C-FB12-AV is 4.0mm +/-0.2. Click HERE for Autosampler Vials, Caps, Inserts & Accessories Ordering Information.
What is the main difference between ordinary and LCMS compatible polypropylene vials in terms of material & chemical stability?
Both types of vials are made of polypropylene and we have not experienced chemical stability problems due to use with acetonitrile or other HPLC grade solvents, if the vial are filled and used within 7 days. We do not recommend plastic vials of any type for long term storage with any organic solvents. We also […]
What is the purpose of a partial slit septa?
The partial slit septa offers both a penetration aid for thick and dull needles plus prevents evaporation resulting in concentration changes. Only the silicone rubber is cut, the PTFE is not pre cut acting as an evaporation barrier.
What makes glass borosilicate glass?
The glass material must contain at least 5% boron oxide to be termed “borosilicate glass”. Other types of glass with less than 5% is often called flint glass or sodium glass.