The high purity, moisture barrier, clarity, and sterilization compatibility of COC resins make them an excellent alternative to glass in a wide range of medical products. Breakage prevention and weight reduction are common reasons for choosing COC in these applications. COC has a very low-energy and nonreactive surface, which can extend shelf life and purity of medications such as insulin and other protein drugs in applications such as vials, syringes and cartridges. The high UV transmission of COC also drives diagnostic applications such as cuvettes and microplates. COC plays an increasingly important role in microfluidics due to its chemical resistance, clarity and unusually high mold detail replication which makes it possible to reliably mold submicron features. Most COC grades can undergo sterilization by gamma radiation, steam, or ethylene oxide.