A cryovial is a small, sealable tube specifically designed for the cryogenic storage of biological samples at ultra-low temperatures, including liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius. Cryovials are one of the most fundamental consumables in any cryopreservation programme, used across IVF clinics, biobanks, pharmaceutical research laboratories, stem cell facilities, and veterinary practices worldwide.
In IVF and reproductive medicine, cryovials are used primarily for sperm storage, where individual patient or donor samples are loaded into labelled tubes, mixed with a cryoprotective agent such as glycerol, and frozen for long-term storage in liquid nitrogen. High security cryovials — hermetically sealed rather than screw-capped — are increasingly used in IVF laboratories for any application where liquid nitrogen ingress into the storage container must be prevented. Standard screw-cap cryovials stored in the liquid phase of liquid nitrogen can allow liquid nitrogen to enter through the cap thread. When the vial is subsequently warmed, this trapped liquid nitrogen expands and can both injure the embryologist and introduce a cross-contamination pathway between samples. The HFEA has been progressively strengthening guidance on closed carrier systems to address this risk.
In biobanking, cryovials are the standard storage format for cell lines, stem cell populations, blood and plasma aliquots, DNA extracts, tissue homogenates, and primary cell cultures. They are compatible with standard rack and box storage systems within liquid nitrogen tanks and are available in volumes from 0.5ml to 5ml. Barcoded or laser-etched cryovials support integration with laboratory information management systems for sample tracking and chain-of-custody documentation — a quality management requirement for ISO 20387-accredited biobanks and HFEA-licensed fertility units.
Standard cryovials are manufactured from polypropylene, which maintains structural integrity across the full temperature range from -196 to +121 degrees Celsius. High security tubes such as the CBS High Security Sterile Tubes from Cryolab use an ionomeric resin hermetic seal that eliminates liquid nitrogen ingress entirely, making them the appropriate choice for any clinical application involving human gametes or embryos where cross-contamination risk must be eliminated.
For IVF embryo and oocyte storage, straws on canes in goblets are the standard format because the small volume and thin wall enable the ultra-rapid cooling rates that vitrification requires. For sperm banking and biobanking, cryovials offer better labelling options, larger sample volumes, and compatibility with automated storage and retrieval systems.
Source: HFEA Code of Practice, 9th Edition, 2023. ISO 20387:2018 Biotechnology — Biobanking. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, Vol. 36, 2019.
Further reading: Cryovials Guide | CBS High Security Tubes | Cryopreservation Guide
