10 Steps to Becoming a Pipetting Pro
The right combination of pipette and tip
- Use the optimum volume range
For maximum precision, use the upper volume range of a pipette. We recommend switching to a smaller volume variant for volumes below 30% of the nominal volume. - Fit of the tips
Make sure that the tip is firmly in place and leak tight. The best results are achieved with original tips from the pipette manufacturer.
Preparatory steps
- Perform a temperature equalization
The pipette, tip, and liquid should be set to the same temperature (temperature equalization ~ 2h). If this is impossible, do not saturate the air cushion and change the tip after dispensing each volume. Pre-wet the air cushion
To saturate the air cushion, each new tip should be pre-wetted. This minimizes the evaporation of liquid into the air cushion.
Volume absorption
- Immersion angle
When aspirating liquid, the immersion angle should be max. 10°. - Immersion depth
Up to 1000 μl, an immersion depth of 2 mm is optimal (>1000 μl: 3–6 mm). - Waiting period
A waiting time of 1 sec up to 1000 μl (>1000 μl: 3 sec) should be observed for complete volume aspiration.
Volume dispensing
- Wipe during volume delivery
Wiping on the vessel wall (over 8–10 mm) ensures that the complete volume is dispensed.
Pipetting technique
- Uniform pipetting rhythm
Uniform pipetting ensures consistent results. Here, the targeted hitting of the 1st stroke with constant force, speed and rhythm are crucial.
Note: The use of electronic pipettes reduces the individual influence of the user. Choose the right pipetting technique
“Forward” pipetting is particularly suitable for aqueous solutions.
When pipetting problematic liquids (e.g. viscous, volatile, foaming), higher precision is achieved by reverse pipetting.
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