Spovel for 20 mL Freestanding Vials — Polypropylene, Natural, Single-Use (220-3598-030)
The Caplugs® Evergreen spovel is a combination spoon-and-shovel tool engineered for sample handling in 20 mL freestanding vials, with part number 220-3598-030 supplied non-sterile in bulk (1000/Bag) for high-throughput workflows. The broad, flat shovel-shaped head provides greater surface area than a conventional slim spoon, giving technicians efficient access to the full vial depth for pellet disruption, semi-solid retrieval, and viscous matrix transfer. Manufactured from single-use polypropylene, these spovels eliminate cross-contamination risks associated with reusable tools and metal ion leaching from stainless steel spatulas.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Part Number (MPN) | 220-3598-030 |
| Product Type | Spovel (spoon/shovel combination tool) |
| Compatible Vial | 20 mL freestanding vials (220-3519-080) |
| Material | Polypropylene (PP) |
| Color | Natural |
| Format | Single-use disposable |
| Sterility | Non-Sterile |
| Pack Size | 1000/Bag |
| BPA / Phthalate / Latex | BPA-Free, Phthalate-Free, Latex-Free |
| Country of Origin | USA |
Applications
- Pellet resuspension: the shovel end reaches the base of a 20 mL centrifuge vial to physically disrupt post-centrifuge pellets without requiring reusable metal spatulas
- Semi-solid and gel sample retrieval: the broad head efficiently scoops viscous matrices such as gels, pastes, agar plugs, and creams from the full vial depth
- Viscous reagent and liquid transfer: polypropylene inertness prevents metal ion contamination when moving high-viscosity samples to recipient containers
- Sediment recovery: the flat shovel geometry scrapes adhered sediment or particulate from vial walls in environmental or geochemical workflows
- Microbial and cell culture scraping: single-use format eliminates the need to autoclave reusable tools between samples, reducing turnaround time and cross-contamination risk
Compatibility
These spovels are designed to fit the opening of the Caplugs® Evergreen 20 mL freestanding vial (220-3519-080), providing optimized access to vial geometry at that volume. If your lab uses a different 20 mL freestanding vial format, verify that the vial mouth diameter accommodates this tool before transitioning from reusable spatulas or alternative single-use sampling tools.
Chemical Resistance
| Reagent / Condition | Compatibility |
|---|---|
| Aqueous buffers / saline | Excellent — inert across pH 2–12 |
| Dilute acids / bases (<10%) | Excellent — broad pH resistance |
| Methanol / acetonitrile | Excellent — compatible under standard lab conditions |
| Ethanol / IPA | Excellent — compatible under standard lab conditions |
| Ethyl acetate | Limited — short-term contact only |
| Dichloromethane / chloroform | Not recommended — causes cracking |
| Powdered media / dry reagents | Excellent — PP inert to standard solid matrices |
| Biological matrices | Excellent — fully compatible |
Quality & Procurement
Made in USA, these Caplugs® Evergreen spovels are produced from FDA-compliant polypropylene resin that is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and latex-free, supporting both research and regulated laboratory environments. LabSupplies.com is an authorized dealer carrying USA inventory, with same-business-day shipping available for stocking items and tiered pricing for institutional purchasers and grant-funded laboratories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a spovel, and how does it differ from a regular lab spoon?
A spovel combines a spoon and a shovel in a single tool. The broader, flat shovel-shaped head provides greater surface area than a conventional slim lab spoon, making it more effective for scooping viscous, semi-solid, or particulate samples from the base and walls of a vial.
Are these spovels sterile?
No — they are supplied non-sterile in 1000/Bag packaging. For applications requiring a sterile contact surface, additional decontamination steps would need to be validated by the end user.
Can I use these spovels with vials other than the 220-3519-080?
They are sized for the 20 mL freestanding vial opening of the Caplugs® Evergreen 220-3519-080. Compatibility with other 20 mL vial formats should be confirmed against the mouth diameter of the specific vial in use.
Why choose single-use plastic spovels over reusable stainless steel spatulas?
Single-use polypropylene eliminates cross-contamination between samples and removes the risk of metal ion leaching from stainless steel — a particular concern in trace-metal analysis, sensitive bioassays, and high-throughput workflows where autoclaving reusable tools between runs is impractical.