The autosampler tamperer - dislodged septa problems - help!

[Abarrallan]

Anyone got a fail safe method/supplier to prevent the occurrance of "plugging" or "coring" coming from autosampler vial caps? We have a sporadic problem with large scale HPLC runs failing due to this.

We use silicon PTFE caps & seals for 2ml autosampler vials from McQuilkin which claims to prevent this from happening. Hmmmmm.

[DR]

3 options:

1) side-port needles
2) pre-split septa (silicone rubber layer is split down the middle, ptfe film is not)
3) septa w/ just ptfe, no silicone rubber - these are available in screw tops, but crimp-on would be more reliable.