Made to a tighter tolerance than plastic syringes, these glass syringes are better at dispensing small, precise samples with little left over. They’re also durable and resistant to chemicals, so they’re unlikely to wear or warp from your samples, so they'll have a long, reliable life. Their precision makes them great for gas chromatography.

For quick and easy needle connections, choose between luer lock and luer slip syringes. Syringes with a luer slip connection use friction to hold a luer lock needle in place. Since they don’t have a locking mechanism like luer lock syringes, their connection isn’t as strong.

When precision is a top concern, choose between a threaded and cemented connection. They’re both designed for the needle to sit exactly at the zero graduation mark, which minimizes leftover material in the barrel after dispensing. Syringes with a threaded connection are about the same in terms of connection strength as a syringe with a luer lock connection and have a stronger connection than luer slip syringes. Syringes with a cemented connection come ready to use with a needle permanently attached. They’re often used with syringe pumps. However, once the needle bends, breaks, or clogs, the entire syringe has to be replaced. They also aren’t autoclavable.

Syringes without a piston resist wear and are nearly frictionless to operate. Syringes with a piston are ideal for use with gases because the piston creates a leak-free, gastight seal against the barrel. They’re also great for liquids that don’t fully mix—the piston’s seal wipes off any deposits from liquids. With no deposits, the plunger won’t get stuck while dispensing. The piston’s seal is also tight enough that the plunger won’t retract on its own, so you can dispense from these syringes in a slow, controlled manner.

Autoclavable syringes must be disassembled before autoclaving. Keep in mind that repeated autoclaving can reduce their lifespan, so chemical sterilization is preferred.