Reusing old vials... Sterile?

**tadpoleboyy** · 03-13-2008, 12:46 PM

Hi, I had some old vials laying around that were empty, but still sealed. I removed the caps, washed in the glass vial part in glass soap, sulfuric acid, and 98% pure ethanol (work at a lab). I then let these dry, and washed the new rubber gromets in the ethanol, and sealed them up with new caps. Is this enough to make sure they are sterile?

PT · 03-13-2008, 01:24 PM

nope

**ottomaddox** · 03-13-2008, 01:38 PM

They only cost a few dollars each, cheap if you think about what could happen.

PT · 03-13-2008, 01:44 PM

if you wouldnt of taken the cap off then they would of been fine to reuse

**tadpoleboyy** · 03-13-2008, 01:48 PM

anyone know how they sterilize sealed vials? Lets say i buy some lions vials, what steps do they take to sterilize and all that? How is it different than the steps i have taken?

**tadpoleboyy** · 03-13-2008, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by pietro75

if you wouldnt of taken the cap off then they would of been fine to reuse

The rubber peice had been pinned to hell. I dont think it would have been safe to keep using the old rubber gromet

PT · 03-13-2008, 01:49 PM

there already are bro. well if you buy that kind they are

**tadpoleboyy** · 03-13-2008, 03:02 PM

what already are?

**Big** · 03-13-2008, 04:28 PM

buy sealed sterile vials, then they are both sealed and sterile.

**tadpoleboyy** · 03-13-2008, 06:21 PM

i probably will end up buying sterile ones, but im wondering for all you that brew, dont you have to seal your own vials up anyway? How do you all keep them sterile?

**Overhaulz** · 03-13-2008, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by pietro75

there already are bro. well if you buy that kind they are

Hey didn't ask if the were sterile. He very specifically asked if anyone knew the process that labs use to make a vial sterile.

**Big** · 03-13-2008, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Overhaulz

Hey didn't ask if the were sterile. He very specifically asked if anyone knew the process that labs use to make a vial sterile.

Originally Posted by tadpoleboyy

anyone know how they sterilize sealed vials? Lets say i buy some lions vials, what steps do they take to sterilize and all that? How is it different than the steps i have taken?

This statement made it appear that he did not realize that lion sold sealed sterile vials, thus it was explained.