Vial
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[[Image:Vials.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Two empty vials shaped like small bottles, with rubber stoppers and a metal cap.]]
A '''vial''' (also '''phial''') is a relatively small [[glass]] vessel or [[bottle]], especially used to store [[medication]] as liquids, powders or in other forms like [[capsule (pharmacy)|capsule]]s. They can also be sample vessels e.g. for use in autosampler devices in analytical [[chromatography]].<ref name="alibaba">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Autosampler vials | work = | publisher = [http://ersahiljain.trustpass.alibaba.com http://ersahiljain.trustpass.alibaba.com] | date = | url = http://ersahiljain.trustpass.alibaba.com/product/11943172/Auto_Sampler_Vials.html | format = Web | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-15}}</ref>
The glass can be colourless or coloured, clear or amber. There are different types of closure systems, e.g. Screw vials (closed with screw cap or dropper/[[pipette]]), Lip vials (closed with cork or plastic [[Stopper (plug)|stopper]]), Crimp vials (closed with a rubber stopper and a metal cap).<ref name="pharmaceuticalonline">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Cappers | work = | publisher = [http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com www.pharmaceuticalonline.com] | date = | url = http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/Content/ProductShowcase/product.asp?DocID=df38a02b-06ab-4215-88dc-552ccca2bd6b&VNETCOOKIE=NO | format = Web | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-15}}</ref> A vial can have a tubular shape or a bottle-like shape with a neck. The bottom is usually flat unlike [[test tube]]s which have usually a rounded bottom. Modern vials can be made of plastic (e.g. [[polypropylene]]). These can have other closure systems like a flip-top/snap cap.
== Etymology ==
The words "vial"/"phial" come from the [[Ancient_Greek|Greek]] word "phiale"<ref name="m-w">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Vial at Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary | work = | publisher = [http://www.m-w.com www.m-w.com] | date = | url = http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/vial | format = Web | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-15}}</ref> meaning "a broad flat container".<ref name="about">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Phiale | work = | publisher = [http://ancienthistory.about.com http://ancienthistory.about.com] | date = | url = http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/grecoromanmyth1/g/phiale.htm | format = Web | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-15}}</ref> [[Latin]]: "phiala", [[Vulgar Latin|Late Latin]]: "fiola", [[Middle English]]: "fiole" and "viole".
== See also ==
* [[Ampoule]]
* [[Vacutainer]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
{{wiktionary}}
* {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Glass Vials, Glass Bottles | work = | publisher = [http://www.acmevial.com www.acmevial.com] | date = | url = http://www.acmevial.com | format = Web | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-15}}
* {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Capitol Vial Inc. | work = | publisher = [http://www.capitolvial.com/ www.capitolvial.com] | date = | url = http://www.capitolvial.com/ | format = Web | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-15}}
[[Category:Containers]]
[[Category:Laboratory glassware]]
[[Category:Pharmacy]]
[[de:Phiole]]
[[ru:Фиал]]