fiale

Fiale is the Italian plural noun for fiala, meaning a small sealed container designed to hold liquids or powders. In Italian, fiale are commonly associated with pharmaceutical preparations, laboratory samples, and diagnostic reagents. The singular form is fiala, while the plural is fiale.

Fiale are typically cylindrical containers made of glass or plastic, with a narrow neck and a closure that preserves sterility. Common sealing methods include rubber stoppers with crimp caps, screw caps, or other closures suitable for maintaining a closed environment. Amber or dark-colored glass is often used for contents that are light-sensitive, such as certain medicines or vaccines, while clear glass or plastic may be used for less sensitive materials. Sizes vary widely, from a few milliliters to several tens of milliliters, depending on the intended dose or sample volume.

In use, fiale serve to store and transport calibrated doses of medicines, vaccines, diagnostic reagents, or laboratory samples. They are a standard packaging format in both clinical and research settings, chosen for their ability to be sealed to prevent contamination and to maintain stability of their contents over time. The term fiale reflects Italian pharmacological and scientific vocabulary, with related terms in English such as vial or phial describing similar containers.

Related terms include vial, phial, ampoule, and bottle. Etymology traces fiala to Greek phialē through Latin, and the Italian plural fiale reflects typical Romance-language pluralization.