Sterile vials...sketchy?

T

ThinFixed853

Well-known member
Got a few questions about sterile vials, specifically when using them for filtering peptides:

Should new sterile vials have a vacuum seal?

Everyone links to the ones on that big online retailer. Anyone vouch for their sterility? I'm kinda new to this and feel like it's not the right place to shop for this stuff, but maybe I'm wrong.

Other places, like medical supply shops, sell them too. But if you don't buy a whole case, they often come as single vials, no expiration date or anything, maybe not even a cap, just loose in bubble wrap. Probably 'cause they're pulling from a big pack. Would you trust those over the Amazon ones?

Thanks for any thoughts!
 
If they are sold with a stopper and crimped seal, they shouldn't come off easily. Like the ones on vials with your peptides. They won't be loose in a box; they’ll have some packaging. If you're worried, contact them and ask about their shipping for small orders.
 
I got the ones from that big online retailer. They're individually wrapped... but who really knows if it's sterile. They look right, and I used to work in surgery, but still. They have a long stopper on top of them. I haven’t tried one yet, but I will soon. I'm also looking at other options. Hope this helps!
 
The shrink wrap isn't the seal. It's for storage and transport. I think the shrink wrap is added after they sterilize them. You'd have to ask them about their process to know for sure.
 
I'm a fan of another brand. They're sold on that website, but they ship directly from the manufacturer. Sterile, many sizes, and the stopper is self-sealing but softer, so it doesn't dull your needles like the hard stoppers do.
 
I know the reviews might be fake, but some people said they leak, so I didn't get those... what do you think? Could that be user error? Those types are usually the loudest!
 
Someone I trust who's used peptides for years recommended them to me. I've used two sizes, and no problems. I'm not tossing them around, though. I used one for a blend and it's fine going in and out of the fridge and being pierced. And I think it helps my needles last longer compared to compound pharmacies. I've put peptides in these vials to avoid the hard-as-rock stoppers that are tough to pierce.
 
Here's the info from the ones that are constantly being suggested from that big online retailer.

All they say about sterilization is "Steam sterilization: 121°C for 20 minutes. Individual package. Sterilization indicator bag shows completion of sterilization"

I don't know what they mean by "Sterilization indicator bag shows completion of sterilization". Seems odd.

The packaging looks great, but that's easy to do regardless of product quality.
 
And here are the medical supply vials. Each one ships in a bubble zip pouch. Not as fancy packaging, but it's obviously split from a bulk pack. I'm sure it's alright.

Here are the details from the site:

USP tested for sterility and endotoxins
Type I Glass USP Borosilicate
cGMP FDA manufacturer
Latex-free Chlorobutyl stopper
Aseptically assembled in an ISO 5 (class 100) cleanroom
Assembled, Sterilized, and Tested in the USA
 
I purchased the ones from that online retailer, and I’m happy with the packaging. I’m still going to run them through my pressure cooker sterilizer. We’ll see what happens.
 
Yep. Probably the first listing you'll find for sterile vials.

Does heating them make them break? Does the pressure help prevent that?

My take on the two after looking closer is that the medical supply ones look more trustworthy. The crimp is more consistent and uniform, and it doesn't have the weird deep stopper.

Even though the packaging is nice on the others, it costs less to make nice packaging than to make a sterile product.

I think I'll trust the ones from the medical supplier. It seems weird because of the packaging, but they look higher quality. The fact that they're from a good supplier, "Aseptically assembled in an ISO 5 (class 100) cleanroom", "USP tested for sterility", and "Assembled, Sterilized, and Tested in the USA" makes me trust them more.

I'm sure both are fine. Just my opinion after looking at them.
 
Some have a vacuum. They aren't individually packaged, but that's fine with me.

The inside of the vial needs to be sterile, not the outside, and you should clean it anyway.

Once you touch something sterile, it's not sterile anymore.

Clean the vial right before filling and using it, and you should be okay.
 
So, I put 100 injector pen cartridges through a pressure cooker, like an autoclave. Almost all the plungers popped. One cracked. Some plungers made holes in the bags. One was full of water.

Blue indicators turned into different shades of gray.

Did I get a bad batch, or is this normal?
 
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