[NHCOLL-L:3514] Vial in jar system for wet collections

[amsnyder at unm.edu]

Just a follow up to John Simmons' contribution to this discussion on glass 
vial closures for wet collections.  I have used the vial-in-jar system for 
about 20 years, in different collections, for ethanol or 5% buffered 
formalin preserved fishes (eggs, larvae, and small collections) with 
success. This system gives me a certain "peace of mind" because I do not 
have to worry about closures backing off, popping out of vials, or 
otherwise failing due to off gassing, air pressure changes, etc.  I have 
not experienced loss of collections due to cotton plugs coming out of the 
vial and cataloged specimens getting mixed.  If anything, I have to make 
sure the students prepping the vials do not use so much of a plug that they 
reduce the amount of fluid in the vial.

Our (Museum of Southwestern Biology)insect division is using the 
vial-in-jar system, using smaller jars (1/2 and 1 liter captive lid jars) 
for easier access.

For fishes, we use three liter Le Parfait jars or the French captive lid 
jars with Buna-N gaskets.  No more than 40 shell glass vials (cataloged 
lots) are placed in a jar; each jar is assigned an alphnumeric (eg.76-A20) 
and contains vials of same species from same water drainage or whatever 
geopolitical category that makes the most sense for your collection.  I 
have found that looking through 40 vials for one vial is not terribly 
laborious.  By querying the collections' database, individual vials are 
easily located. (Like other databases for specimen information,ours has a 
field displaying information on specimen/lot deposition.)

Sources:  shell glass vials, 6 dram and 8 dram, either from VWR or Fisher, 
depending on who is cheaper.  VWR: Cat. 66020-197 and -198

Le Parfait 3 liter jars, Riekes Glass Distributing, Dallas PH.214.638.9091 
In the past,I purchased from Chelsea Bottle Co. PH.617.884.2323

White Buna-N rubber, 50/55 Duro 3/32" thick, Manufactured Rubber Products, 
Philadelphia PH.215.533.3600  We replace the orange gaskets that come with 
French captive lid jars with these gaskets.  This material lasts a lot 
longer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alexandra M. Snyder
Collections Manager-Fishes
Museum of Southwestern Biology
University of New Mexico MSC03-2020
Albuquerque NM 87131 USA
505.277.6005  Tele/Fax
amsnyder at unm.edu