Cryogenic vials...really necessary?

[Alex Brands]

Hey all,

I've been keeping my glycerol stocks in 2ml snap-cap eppendorf type tubes.
Today, someone told me that glycerol stocks will eventually dessicate in
those types of tubes, and that's why the screw-cap cryogenic tubes are
sold.

So, can anyone confirm or deny that the snap-cap tubes are inappropriate
for long term frozen storage?  If they are, roughly how long the stocks
will last in a snap-cap tube?

Alex