Posted by Cam W. on September 12, 2000, at 6:33:17
In reply to Q for CamW, posted by AndrewB on September 12, 2000, at 1:51:51
Andrew - Cool, an answer that I know! Hold the vial vertically and flick it gently with you finger, to get all the liquid into the larger part of the vial. Using a small file or a finishing nail (or anything that will scratch the glass), score a mark horizontally across the thinnest portion of the ampoule (either the blue or red line usually). Just scratch the glass; it doesn't need to be deep. Then, firmly holding the vial upright (from the bottom, take a face cloth (or wadded paper towel) in you other hand and snap off the top.
The scoring of the vial makes it easier to break, as you are really ruining the integrity of the glass and making a weak point, which should cause the vial to fracture along the scoring. The face cloth is so that if the break isn't clean you will not drive the ampoule through your hand.
In other words, score the vial along the thinnest portion and snap off the top (using the above precautions).
Hope this helps - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:44660
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000905/msgs/44664.html