A cryogenic vial, also termed a cryotube or cryogenic storage tube, is a specialized laboratory container engineered for the preservation, transport, and long-term storage of biological and biochemical materials at ultra-low temperatures. These vials are designed to hold cells, tissues, serum, plasma, blood, nucleic acids, proteins, microorganisms, and other sensitive specimens at temperatures generally below −80°C and down to −196°C in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen. Their performance depends on an integrated design comprising the vial body, closure, sealing gasket, and, in advanced formats, permanent identification features that support traceability across decades of storage.

Material Composition and Temperature Performance

The vial body is manufactured predominantly from polypropylene, selected for its chemical resistance, mechanical toughness, dimensional stability, and ability to withstand repeated freeze–thaw cycles without embrittlement or degradation. Medical-grade virgin polypropylene conforming to USP Class VI standards is widely specified to ensure biocompatibility and suitability for direct contact with biological materials. The material must also be sufficiently rigid to maintain shape under pressure yet sufficiently flexible to permit tight gasket compression at the cap–vial interface.

Cryogenic vials typically exhibit a working temperature range from −196°C to +121°C, covering vapor-phase liquid nitrogen storage and autoclave sterilization. This range does not imply suitability for direct immersion in liquid-phase nitrogen.