Thermo Scientific Vials for HPLC/GC, Headspace & Cryogenic Storage

You handle precious samples every day; this collection gathers Thermo Scientific vials, caps, septa, and inserts so you can move confidently from sampling to storage to autosampler injection. As a distributor, Iright supplies a wide mix of Thermo Fisher options and can help you match formats, certifications, and closures to your method.

What Are Thermo Scientific Vials Used For?

From routine HPLC/GC injections to volatile headspace analysis and long-term cryogenic preservation, Thermo Scientific vials provide clean, dimensionally consistent containers that protect analytes and fit mainstream autosamplers. You’ll find clear or amber Type 1 glass and engineered polymers with options for precleaning, certification, and low-adsorption surfaces.

Vial Types for HPLC/GC, Headspace & Cryogenic Workflows

Before you dive into model numbers, it helps to map vial types to the job. The families below cover most chromatography and biobanking tasks while keeping instrument compatibility and data quality in view.

• Autosampler vials (2 mL, 12×32 mm): Screw, crimp, or snap formats for LC/GC; available as SureSTART™ Level 1–3 with everyday to high-performance certification.

• Headspace vials (6/10/20 mL): Built to tolerate elevated temperature/pressure in volatile analyses; round or flat bottoms for handling/heating trade-offs.

• Cryogenic vials (Nunc™/Nalgene™): Sterile PP tubes for vapor-phase liquid-nitrogen storage with internal or external threads.

• VOA/EPA vials (20–60 mL): Clear/amber glass containers certified for regulatory methods.
• Inserts & shell vials: Micro-volume solutions that reduce dead volume for scarce samples.

How to Choose the Right Autosampler or Headspace Vial

A good choice starts with application, then narrows by material, footprint, closure, and certification. Use the quick guide below to align vial attributes with method constraints and sample behavior.

Decision guide (summary)

These options balance cleanliness, mechanical sealing, and instrument handling. Level-based SureSTART selections help you match “everyday,” “high-throughput,” or “high-performance” requirements without over- or under-specifying.

Autosampler Compatibility & Standard Footprints (12×32, 15×45, 20 mL)

Instrument trays and grippers expect specific diameters, heights, and finishes. Most 2 mL autosampler vials use the 12×32 mm footprint, while larger 4 mL options are typically 15×45 mm; headspace vials commonly follow 20 mm finishes in 10 or 20 mL volumes. Confirm your tray/robot model and choose matching caps or kits to avoid mispicks.

Materials & Surface Options: Type 1 Glass, Amber, Low-Adsorption

Material and surface finish drive background, adsorption, and light protection. Type 1 borosilicate glass is the chromatography default; amber variants guard light-sensitive analytes. Low-adsorption and inert-surface options help with peptides, amines, and hydrophobic small molecules by reducing losses to the glass wall—especially at low concentration.

Closures, Caps & Septa: 9 mm Screw, 11 mm Crimp/Snap, PTFE/Silicone

Sealing quality affects precision and maintenance just as much as vial glass. Choose 9 mm screw, 11 mm crimp/snap, or 20 mm headspace closures with PTFE/silicone or chlorobutyl septa according to solvent and temperature. Pre-assembled kits reduce handling and particulate risk, and magnetic caps are available for robotic systems and headspace autosamplers.

Representative Products & Sub-Collections: Autosampler, Headspace, Cryo, VOA

To make selection concrete, here are representative Thermo Fisher SKUs you can use as anchors for sub-collections. Each item links naturally to a deeper page with specs, certificates, and compatible caps/septa.

Representative products (examples)

Handling & Storage Tips for Clean, Low-Background Results

A few small habits go a long way. Open precleaned packs only when needed; keep amber vials for photosensitive analytes; and verify septum compatibility with your solvent and needle. For cryogenic storage, follow vapor-phase liquid-nitrogen practices and use internal-thread tubes with gaskets to mitigate leakage risk.

Practical checklist

• Wear powder-free gloves; avoid touching septa surfaces.

• Use pre-assembled kits for critical work to limit particulate.

• Match round vs flat bottoms to heating or robotic handling.

• For micro-volume injections, pair 2 mL vials with appropriate inserts.

• Replace punctured septa in headspace/GC workflows on schedule.

FAQs: Thermo Scientific Vials, Inserts, Caps & Septa

These brief answers address the last-mile decisions you often face when purchasing or validating a method. If you need model-specific confirmation, send us your autosampler tray and cap style.

1. What’s the difference between SureSTART Levels 1–3?

Level 1 supports everyday analysis; Level 2 emphasizes high-throughput reliability; Level 3 adds the tightest specifications and documentation for demanding, trace-level work. Choose based on sensitivity and throughput needs.

2. When should I use amber instead of clear glass?

Pick amber when targets are light-sensitive (e.g., certain vitamins, aromatics, pharmaceuticals). Otherwise, clear glass helps with visual checks and is widely used for routine methods.

3. Are headspace vials interchangeable across instruments?

Thermo Scientific 20 mm finish headspace vials are designed to fit most major autosamplers; verify base style (round/flat) for your tray and heating profile.

4. What’s special about VOA/EPA vials?

I-Chem/EP VOA vials are offered in certified and processed grades to meet EPA performance-based specifications for volatile organics, with clear or amber options and matched closures.

5. How should I store cryogenic vials safely?

Use vapor-phase liquid-nitrogen storage and follow Thermo Fisher instructions; internal-thread designs with gaskets are recommended for immersion scenarios with appropriate secondary sealing.

Talk to Iright — Verify Fit & Get a Quote

Choosing vials is faster when you have the tray map and method specifics. Share your autosampler model, desired capacity, and closure preference, and Iright will confirm the footprint, suggest the correct caps/septa, and prepare stocked options with lead times—so you can order once and run with confidence.