Cryovial Tubes vs. Centrifuge Tubes: Key Differences and When to Use Each

Picture this: your lab just received a shipment of biological samples. Some require long-term storage at ultra-low temperatures, while others need to be spun down immediately for separation. You reach for the tubes – but which ones? Cryovials? Centrifuge tubes? Does it even matter?

It matters more than you might think. Many lab managers and procurement specialists confuse these two tube types, and choosing the wrong one can cost you wasted samples, failed experiments, and money down the drain. A cracked tube in a liquid nitrogen tank does not just mean losing one sample – it can compromise an entire storage batch.

Different test tubes serve different purposes – and it’s not always clear which one you need. That’s why we break down the key types by material, volume, and intended use, so you don’t end up paying extra for something you don’t need or have to look for a replacement after placing your order.

What Are Centrifuge Tubes?

In simple terms, centrifuge tubes are tubes designed to spin. They go into a centrifuge, withstand high rotational force (measured in × g, or RCF), and separate your sample into layers based on density. That is their primary job.

Most standard conical tubes come in 15 ml and 50 ml sizes. A 50 ml conical tube is probably the most common tube in any clinical or research lab. The material is almost always polypropylene (PP), which is chemically resistant and affordable. For high-speed ultracentrifugation, polycarbonate (PC) tubes handle forces up to 100,000 × g.

Practical RCF range for standard PP centrifuge tubes: about 3,000 to 20,000 × g. Beyond that, you need specialized Oak Ridge-style tubes.

The key thing to remember: a centrifuge tube is a workhorse for separation. It is NOT designed for long-term storage or freezing below -40°C. If you try to freeze a standard conical in liquid nitrogen, expect cracks and lost samples. Browse the full selection of centrifuge tubes and cryovial tubes at BostonMed Supply.

Common Types of Centrifuge Tubes

Conical screw-cap tubes – the standard 15 ml and 50 ml conical tubes are used for routine cell pelleting, blood separation, and general lab work.

Round-bottom tubes – offer better pellet recovery and are designed for fixed-angle rotors where the sample collects along the tube wall. These are common in microbiology and immunology labs working with cell suspensions that form loose pellets.

Oak Ridge tubes – high-speed polypropylene or polycarbonate tubes rated for forces up to 100,000 × g, used in ultracentrifugation protocols for subcellular fractionation and virus purification.

Micro centrifuge tubes (1.5 ml / 2 ml, also known as Eppendorf tube style) – for small-volume molecular biology work, PCR prep, and enzyme reactions.

What Are Cryovial Tubes?

Cryovial tubes (sometimes called cryotubes) are designed for one purpose: withstanding extreme cold. We are talking liquid nitrogen at -196°C, ultra-low freezers at -80°C, and standard -20°C storage. Unlike regular tubes, every component of a cryovial – from the plastic wall to the cap seal – is engineered to remain intact through repeated freeze-thaw cycles without warping, cracking, or leaking.

Every design detail in a cryovial serves that mission. They feature silicone O-ring seals that stay flexible at cryogenic temperatures, self-standing bases for easy handling in racks and freezers, and medical-grade polypropylene that will not crack or become brittle when frozen. The writing area on each tube stays legible even after years in a -80°C freezer, so you always know what is inside.

Standard sizes are 1 ml, 1.8 ml, 2 ml, and 5 ml. Many cryovials are available sterile, DNase-free, and RNase-free – critical if you are storing sensitive biological materials.

Internal vs. External Thread: What Buyers Should Know

This is a detail that makes a real difference in practice. With an internal thread cap, the threading sits inside the tube and contacts the sample directly. If the cap is not perfectly clean, there is a risk of contamination. For routine, non-hazardous storage, internal-thread cryovials work well and are generally cheaper.

External thread caps seal from the outside. The thread never touches the sample, eliminating the risk of cross-contamination between the cap and the liquid. This design is strongly preferred for cell lines, biobank specimens, and patient-derived samples where contamination control and regulatory compliance matter. External thread tubes also tend to have a slightly smaller overall diameter, meaning more tubes fit per rack or freezer box. If your work falls under GMP or GLP guidelines, an external thread is worth the premium.

Key Differences: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here is a quick-reference table that covers the most important differences between these two tube types:

Feature	Centrifuge Tubes	Cryovials
Primary Purpose	Sample separation by spinning	Long-term cryogenic storage
Temperature Range	Room temp to -40°C max	-196°C (liquid nitrogen) to room temp
Material	PP (standard), PC (high-speed)	Medical-grade PP only
Cap Type	Screw cap or snap cap	Internal or external thread with O-ring
Sterility	Available sterile or non-sterile	Typically sterile, DNase/RNase-free
Typical Volumes	1.5 ml, 2 ml, 15 ml, 50 ml	1 ml, 1.8 ml, 2 ml, 5 ml
Max RCF	3,000-100,000 × g (varies by type)	3,000-5,000 × g max
Reusable?	Generally single-use / disposable	Single-use (cryogenic stress)

When to Use Centrifuge Tubes

Reach for centrifuge tubes whenever your workflow involves spinning samples. Here are the most common scenarios.

Cell culture pellet collection. You spin your cells down in a 15-ml or 50-ml conical tube, decant the supernatant, and proceed to the next step. The tube did its job and was discarded.

Blood separation and plasma isolation. Standard 15-ml or 50-ml conical tubes handle this perfectly. Spin the whole blood at 1,500-2,000 × g, collect the plasma layer, and move on. This is routine work in hematology labs and blood banks worldwide. Our 15 ml conical centrifuge tubes and 50 ml conical centrifuge tubes are popular choices for clinical labs.

Protein precipitation or extraction. These protocols require centrifugal force to pellet precipitated proteins – not long-term cold storage. Typical speeds range from 10,000 to 15,000 × g, well within the range of standard micro centrifuge tubes.

Any same-day workflow where the tube is used once and tossed. Think routine clinical diagnostics, quality control checks, and teaching lab exercises where samples do not need to be archived.

Practical tip: if your protocol calls for speeds above 20,000 × g, switch to polycarbonate or Oak Ridge tubes. Standard PP conicals will crack under that kind of force.

When to Use Cryovials

Cryovials are the right choice whenever your samples need to survive extreme cold. Here is when you should reach for them:

• Biobanking and long-term archival storage. Cells, tissue biopsies, serum, and plasma destined for months or years of storage belong in cryovials, not centrifuge tubes.
• Cell line preservation in liquid nitrogen. If you are freezing cell lines at -196°C, only cryogenic-rated tubes are safe to use. Our 1 ml cryovials and 2 ml cryovials are designed for exactly this purpose.
• Any sample that must survive -80°C or liquid nitrogen environments. This includes DNA libraries, RNA extracts, enzyme stocks, and viral vectors that lose activity if stored improperly.

Regulatory or GMP environments where the chain of custody and contamination control are critical. External-thread cryovials with tamper-evident caps provide an extra layer of compliance.

Safety warning: Do NOT use standard centrifuge tubes for liquid nitrogen storage. The plastic is not rated for cryogenic temperatures. Tubes will crack or shatter, releasing biohazardous material and creating a serious safety risk. This is a compliance issue, not just a best-practice suggestion.

Can You Use the Same Tube for Both?

This is one of the most common questions buyers ask, and the short answer is: no. Centrifuge tubes are not rated for cryogenic storage. The polypropylene used in standard conicals becomes brittle and cracks at temperatures below -40°C. On the other hand, most cryovials are only rated for 3,000 to 5,000 × g – nowhere near enough for many centrifugation protocols.

The correct approach is a two-step workflow: spin your sample in a centrifuge tube, then transfer the supernatant or pellet into a cryovial for long-term storage. Yes, it means buying two SKUs instead of one. But trying to save money by using one tube for both jobs leads to cracked tubes, contaminated samples, and wasted time – not to mention potential regulatory violations if you are working in a GMP-compliant facility. It is a false economy.

How to Choose: Quick Decision Guide

Use this simple if/then framework to make the right call:

• If you are spinning samples, use a centrifuge tube.
• If you are freezing below -40°C, use a cryovial.
• If you need both separation and cold storage, buy both and use the two-step workflow.

A few more tips to get the order right:

• Volume: match your tube size to your sample volume, leaving 20-30% headspace. Overfilling a centrifuge tube causes leaks; overfilling a cryovial causes expansion damage during freezing.
• Material: Stick with PP for standard use. Choose PC (polycarbonate) only if your centrifugation protocol demands speeds above 20,000 × g.
• Sterility: If you are working with cell cultures or patient samples, choose sterile, DNase/RNase-free options for both tube types.

Ready to stock up? Browse both product categories at BostonMed Supply: centrifuge tubes and cryovials. For related lab essentials, check out our test tube racks and cell culture products.

Conclusion

Centrifuge tubes and cryovials are different tools built for different jobs. The decision comes down to two factors: temperature and centrifugal force. If you are spinning, use a centrifuge tube. If you are freezing, use a cryovial. If you need both, use both – and transfer between them. Getting this right protects your samples, keeps your lab compliant, and saves you money in the long run.

Browse BostonMed Supply’s full selection of centrifuge tubes and cryovials – bulk pricing available, ships same day. Need help choosing the right tubes for your specific workflow? Contact our team for personalized recommendations. With over 25 years of experience supplying laboratories worldwide, we will help you find exactly what your lab needs.