Lab Vials & Microplates for Laboratory Applications
When your scientific and laboratory work demands efficiency, convenience, and confidence, rely on DWK lab vials and microplates to make all the difference. At DWK Life Sciences, we offer over 10,000 configurations, each designed and configured for the storage of biologic, environmental, and lab samples, scintillation and chromatographic analysis, and mixing.
Through our focus on workflow efficiency and convenience, standard and custom lab vial and racking solutions are available in polystyrene, paperboard, and polypropylene with and without autoclavable closures affixed. The stackable rack systems can be autoclaved and used for cold storage and feature alphanumeric indexing and well drains. Our Microplates enable high-throughput chromatography analysis, negating the need to handle large quantities of vials.
Whether your needs center on sample collection, storage, analytics, automation, or commercialization, our ISO-registered vial manufacturing facility assures vial quality through state-of-the-art forming, inspection, and cleanroom robotics packaging. Delivering the quality, reliability, and workflow convenience your lab demands.
All Vials & Microplates Categories
Glass Lab Vials
Ideal for chromatography, scintillation, sample storage, mixing and dilution, and clinical packaging applications, our glass lab vials are made from Type I borosilicate and meet stringent quality specifications.
- Compatible with autosamplers, liquid handlers, and robotic systems
- Available with or without graduation, marking spots, or silanization
- High-recovery and glass-plastic hybrid options
- Amber and dark formats to protect light-sensitive samples
- MicroLiter™ Class 10K clean-packed vials for MS-critical applications
Plastic Laboratory Vials
Our plastic vials offer flexible, cost-effective solutions with robust material consistency and customization capabilities.
- Produced under strict manufacturing and material control standards
- Multiple cap colors for visual organization by sample type or workflow
- Compatible with automation sensors using dark-colored plastics
- Closures for magnetic handling and certified septa for mass spectrometry
- Cryogenic vials are leak-proof and validated for cold storage and transportation.
Microplates
Designed to fit Society of Biomolecular Screening (SBS)-format automation and manual workflows, our microplates support a wide range of applications from method development to sample storage.
- SBS-compatible well shapes and depths to suit your workflow
- Preloaded inserts for filtration and autosampler integration
- MicroLiter™ 96-well Plate Sampling System™ for scalable throughput
- Reusable carrier plates for lab waste reduction
- Amber insert options for light-sensitive materials
Note: vial options include barcoding, surface treatments, cleaning, and custom packaging
With thousands of combinations to choose from, DWK Life Sciences offers the largest and most diverse selection of chromatography lab vial solutions and microplates. Our ISO 9001 facility manufactures vials that meet or exceed OEM specifications for headspace, routine HPLC/GC use, plus Certified vials for LCMS/GCMS. To ensure high material purity and product reliability, all of our chromatography vials are converted from Type I borosilicate glass tubing. Purchase options include with or without caps; quantities from 100 to full pallets; convenience kits, component kits, assembled vials; and barcoded for inventory and sample management. Standard crimp, snap ring, and screw thread finishes are available, as well as shell vial and lid-style configurations that are complemented by a wide range of both glass and plastic inserts.
Support a range of storage applications from basic sample containment to biologicals and diagnostics, with our diverse selection of lab vials and accessories.
General & Specialized Storage
- Eight types of laboratory vials for solids, liquids, powders, biologicals, and diagnostics
- Available with or without attached caps in various closure styles
- Shorty Vials®: low-profile design minimizes dead volume and maximizes stability
- E-C Line: cost-effective vials and caps, packaged separately for budget-conscious labs
Pre-Organized Storage Systems
- Lab File®: partitioned trays for organizing and inventorying samples
- Vial File®: compact, foam-lined cases for secure, labeled vial storage
Biologics & Infectious Samples
- Autoclavable culture vials with extended cap skirts for safer handling of infectious materials
Multi-Purpose Disposable Vials
- Sampule® (glass/HDPE) and Omni-Vial® (polypropylene) for use as storage, chromatography, or scintillation vials
Our liquid scintillation lab vials deliver reliable counting and sample storage results. Made from Type I borosilicate glass, they offer high UV transmission and low background counts to support analytical accuracy. Available in glass, HDPE, or PET formats, with or without screw caps, these laboratory vials also include nested 20 mL glass options for added convenience and flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
If they’re glass, then yes. However, certain GC autosamplers use grippers that must function properly with the sloped shoulder vial. The MicroLiter 76-Series TM has been engineered to align all GC autosamplers as well as HPLC and LC-MS autosamplers. Additionally, confirm that your HPLC septa are compatible with your GC solvents and application. You can standardize your vial, but you may require different septa for HPLC vs. GC.
Typically, crimp finish vials deliver the best defense. To avoid under- and over-torquing with screw thread vials, a properly adjusted hand or automatic crimper largely eliminates this issue.
Depending on the evaporation characteristics of the compound(s), solvent, storage conditions, duration of storage, and method requirements, screw cap vials may perform well; however, if any evaporation could impact results, then we recommend that you default to crimp-top vials.
The slitted septa’s primary function is to reduce coring and piercing force and the likelihood of particulate generation and needle bend.
We do not recommend storage directly in contact with the liquid phase, only in the gas phase.
Yes to both questions — we’re happy to customize your order and your packaging. DWK Life Sciences offers custom containers and custom packaging, bar coding, critical cleaning, surface treatment, and pre-weighed containers.
CryoFile® => 12.5 mm diameter x 50 mm tall for cryovials having a capacity of up to 2mL.
CryoFile® XL => 12.5 mm diameter x 95 mm tall for cryovials having a capacity of 3mL and greater.