What Is the Use of a Vial?
Almost any food or drink has to be contained in some way. Sometimes the containers used are boxes, plastic jugs or bottles, or Styrofoam cups. For many types of medicine, however, these types of containers generally aren't suitable, simply because they would leak or disintegrate. As a result, those in the medical profession had to come up with a way of storing their medicine that would be more practical. The result is the vial.
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What Is a Vial?
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A vial is a small glass bottle. It generally is round and has a flat bottom so that it can be set down without it tipping or rolling. Vials can be clear, amber or blue, and they can have screw tops, cork tops or dropper tops. You see vials most often in clinics and hospitals, but they also are used in laboratories to contain chemicals.
Storage
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The primary use of a vial is storage. Hospitals and clinics use vials to store various medications, whether the medication is in liquid, powder or capsule form. Usually vials containing the same medication are stored together with the contents clearly labeled to avoid confusion.
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Measurement
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The second use of vials is measurement. Vials come in various sizes, and each holds a certain amount. Often these amounts are determined by dosage regulations. For example, one vial of insulin may be equivalent to one dose. If a vial contains only enough medication for one dose, generally the cap for the vial does not allow for the vial to be resealed. This generally is preferred because it reduces the risk of contamination, especially if the medication has to be taken through injection and requires the use of a needle. It also allows hospital staff to know at a glance how much medication is being used, which can be critical in emergency situations.
Transportation
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Vials also are used for the transportation of medications and chemicals. They can be grabbed easily and quickly by hospital or clinic staff and carried from room to room as needed for patient treatment.
Inspection
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Vials can be used for visual inspection of specimens. The fact that many vials are clear permits a laboratory worker or hospital/clinic staff member to see what the specimen is like without having to touch the specimen itself, which is more sanitary.
Mixing
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Vials also can be used for mixing chemicals. Because they're glass, small amounts of different chemicals can be mixed together and the vials normally will not break down.
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