Thus, the user once receiving a container such as that shown in FIG. 4 with a sample contained therein, may insert a cannula through septum 52 for receiving part or all of the contents in tube 42 to perform various tests on a sample. Covering a substantial portion of the length of the tube is a multi-layer barrier coating 45. Multi-layer barrier coating 45 covers substantially most of the tube with the exception of open end 41 thereof. Multi-layer barrier coating 45 comprises a first layer 54 of a polymer material such as an acrylate, a second layer 56 of mixture of a metal oxide such as SnOx, GeOx,or PbOx, and a silicon oxide material and a third layer 58 of an organic barrier material such a PVDC.FIG.4 differs from the embodiment in FIG.3 in that the tube may be evacuated with the simultaneous placement of stopper 48 therein after the application of layers 54 and 56 over the tube. Alternatively, the multi-layer barrier coating may be applied to the tube after it has been evacuated