Agilent Vials and Sample Containment Solutions

Importance of the Topic

Autosampler vials and closures are foundational components in chromatographic workflows.
Their material composition, surface quality, and sealing integrity directly influence sample recovery, chromatographic fidelity, and instrument uptime.
Poor-quality or incompatible vials can introduce contaminants, cause sample loss through adsorption or evaporation, and damage sensitive injection systems.
Selecting the right containment solutions is therefore essential for reliable, reproducible results and cost-effective laboratory operation.

Objectives and Overview of the Guide

This document serves as a comprehensive resource to help analytical chemists choose appropriate autosampler vials, caps, and septa.
It provides:

• An overview of performance criteria and quality control metrics for vial manufacturing
• A compatibility chart covering major GC, LC, and headspace autosamplers
• Guidance on matching vial volumes, glass types, and closure formats to application needs
• Specialized solutions for high-recovery, deactivated, polypropylene, headspace, and large-volume vials
• Ordering information for standard and convenience pack configurations

Methodology and Instrumentation

The selection criteria are based on glass composition (ASTM E438 Type I, Class A/B, type 33-51), septa chemistry, and closure mechanics.
Key quality metrics include lot-to-lot consistency,
stringent inspection (30+ inspection points), and compatibility testing with over ten instrument brands.
Performance data highlights time savings in capping/uncapping, reduced background bleed, and cost savings.
Both manual (5040-4667) and electronic crimpers (5191-5616, 5191-5615) are presented to ensure consistent sealing.

Instrumentation Used

• GC and GC/MS autosamplers (e.g., Agilent 7890, 7693A; Thermo TriPlus)
• LC autosamplers (e.g., Agilent 1290, 1260 Infinity; Shimadzu SIL-20)
• Headspace samplers (e.g., Agilent 7697A; Gerstel MPS; Thermo HS instruments)
• Manual and electronic crimpers and decappers for 11 mm and 20 mm vial formats

Main Findings and Discussion

Type 33-51 glass vials exhibit minimal analyte adsorption and excellent dimensional stability over 0-300 °C.
A-Line vials demonstrate superior analyte retention compared to competing brands in ESI-MS studies, reducing peak variability and reruns.
Crimp closures are recommended for GC/GC-MS to ensure robust seals, while screw caps suit LC/LC-MS and volatile samples.
A variety of septa formulations (PTFE, PTFE/silicone, PTFE/rubber, fluoroelastomer) cover temperature and solvent compatibility ranges from –50 °C to 300 °C.
Well plates, inserts, and specialized polypropylene vials address micro-volume, PFAS, and metal-sensitive applications.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Up to 30 % faster capping operations and 50 % faster crimp speeds reduce labor costs
• Certified vials with rigorous QC lower downtime and technical support costs to zero
• Convenience packs and pre-assembled kits simplify inventory management and ordering
• Deactivated and high-recovery vials enhance trace-level analysis in pharmaceutical, environmental, and food testing
• Polypropylene options support biological assays and metal analyses (AA, ICP-MS)

Future Trends and Possibilities

Automation and high-throughput workflows will drive demand for pre-assembled and robotics-compatible containment solutions.
Advances in surface coatings—such as advanced deactivation and fluoropolymer linings—will further reduce analyte loss and background interference.
Integration of smart sensors in vial caps may enable real-time seal integrity monitoring and sample tracking.
3D-printed custom vials and microfabricated inert liners are emerging for specialized microfluidic and nanoliter applications.

Conclusion

High-quality sample containment is critical for obtaining precise, reproducible chromatographic data.
By considering glass type, volume, closure style, and septa chemistry, analysts can minimize sample loss, contamination, and downtime.
Agilent’s full suite of vials, caps, and septa—backed by stringent QC, compatibility testing, and worldwide technical support—offers a robust foundation for reliable analytical performance across diverse applications.