Enhancing Laboratory Comfort with BRAND® Transferpette® S Pipettes
Case Study - Pipetting
Background:
Cynthia Brinkman has been working in Dr. Coats’ Civil and Environmental Engineering lab for 18 years. Her research is focused on studying cow manure and wastewater treatment, employing techniques such as metabolomics and next-generation sequencing to explore the effects of various treatment methodologies on microbial populations. The experimental protocols require tasks such as sample extraction, plate preparation, and amplification, which often span several hours. Throughout these workflows, Cynthia relies extensively on micropipettes, including the BRAND® Transferpette® S pipettes.
Problem:
One of Cynthia's challenges stemmed from the strain induced by prolonged pipetting sessions, particularly during their extensive COVID-19 wastewater testing project. The repetitive actions involved in pipetting using other manufacturers' pipettes led to discomfort and pain, especially in the thumb and forearm. It was uncomfortable to depress the plunger and turn the wheel to change the pipetting volume, and doing so increased the risk of repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
When she experienced firsthand the negative effects of poorly designed pipettes on comfort and health, the significance of ergonomic pipettes became clear. It was necessary to find a solution that would address these problems without sacrificing efficiency, accuracy, or precision.
Solution:
Cynthia's testimonial regarding the BRAND Transferpette S pipettes highlights their positive impact on her laboratory experience. The ergonomic design of these pipettes significantly alleviated strain from repetitive motions, notably reducing fatigue on her hands and forearms. She emphasized the seamless adjustment of pipetting volumes and the easy operation of the plunger, which significantly enhanced comfort during extended use. Furthermore, the single-handed operation feature of the pipette minimized effort, with volume adjustments requiring just one finger—a distinctive advantage over other manufacturers’ pipettes. Cynthia also commended the volume locking mechanism, which eliminated volume drift, instilling confidence in experimental integrity and ensured uninterrupted pipetting.
Cynthia also highly values the durability of the BRAND® pipettes. She mentioned that the lab still uses BRAND pipettes that are 17 years old. Unlike other pipettes, she appreciated that performing calibration adjustments was easy as no special tool was needed. Because pipettes are consistently within the calibration limits when routine calibration tests are conducted, she expressed confidence in the reliability of the pipettes, saying, "I never have to worry that they are out of calibration."
Cynthia’s positive experience with BRAND Transferpette S pipettes extended beyond her own usage. She mentioned that other personnel in the lab also preferred the BRAND pipettes over other pipettes they had for their ergonomic design and ease of use. When the lab had the funding to purchase more sets of pipettes, she made sure they were BRAND Transferpette S pipettes saying, “I now have 4 sets of these and will never go back.”
Conclusion:
The BRAND Transferpette S pipettes alleviated Cynthia’s fatigue caused by repetitive pipetting tasks. Her experience demonstrates the value of ergonomic design in micropipettes and the positive impact it can have on user comfort, efficiency, and experimental outcomes.