How to choose the right type of micropipette?

Are you one of those lab professionals that spends numerous hours a day with a micropipette in hand? Or do you run a lab, and are frequently confronted with questions about how to improve pipetting efficiency or how to guarantee reliable results? If so, selecting the right pipette type could be key to the success of your work. It not only ensures the performance of your experiments, it can also boost your efficiency.

What does your application involve?

One of the most important elements of selecting the right pipette is analyzing the application and the type of process required. Not all pipettes are made equally. Depending on what type of samples you’ll be working with, you have a couple of choices – an air displacement, positive displacement, electronic, multichannel, controller, or transfer pipette.  Air displacement. For aqueous samples or standard pipetting applications, an air displacement pipette will give you highly accurate results. In air displacement pipettes, a certain volume of air stays between the piston and the liquid. Positive displacement. A positive displacement pipette is ideal for radioactive, corrosive, dense, and viscous samples as well as applications like PCR and DNA amplification techniques. In positive displacement pipettes, the piston is in direct contact with the liquid. Electronic. Electronic pipettes are the ergonomic alternative to manual pipettes, they increase productivity and are easy-to-use. They can be used from pipetting plasma to other standard applications. Multichannel. Multichannel pipettes are geared toward lab technicians working with a large number of samples. For example, those working with 96 and/or 384 well plates will benefit from a multichannel rather than a single channel pipette. Controller. A pipette controller is an alternative to rubber bulb pipettes and transfer pipets, it provides precise aspiration and dispensing of maximum volumes. Used to aspirate liquid from bottles and tubes with the aid of a serological pipette. Disposable transfer pipet. A transfer pipet is a one-piece plastic pipette that is a better alternative to Pasteur pipettes as you no longer have to deal with the danger of broken glass or finding the correct bulb.

What should you consider when choosing a micropipette?

Across a variety of micropipettes, how do you know which is the best for your application? Never fear, that’s what we are here for. 

In shopping for a new pipette, lots of performance features can be considered. Some of the top ones include:

• Accuracy. Accuracy is the ability of a measuring instrument to give responses to a true value. A pipette is accurate to the degree that the volume delivered is equal to the specified volume.
• Precision. Precision expresses the degree of reproducibility, or agreement between repeated measurements. If you perform multiple dispenses of a certain volume with a pipette, and it dispenses actual volumes very close to each other, the pipette is precise and your results are reproducible.
• Durability. Durable to withstand the harshest lab conditions and to minimize the lifetime maintenance costs. As one of the most frequently used tools in the lab, pipettes are often exposed to a wide range of corrosive chemicals, as well as normal wear and tear from repeated use. 

What is the correct pipette for me?

Choosing the perfect pipette for you takes some work, as in you’re going to have to answer a couple of questions to get to the right one for you. To narrow down the choices, it is important that you take these factors into consideration before taking the leap and purchasing one.

• easy to operate with an ergonomic, lightweight design
• aspirate and dispense pipetting modes
• adjustable volume
• trusted brand and quality
• autoclavable

As mentioned above, ergonomics makes up a crucial part of any buying decision. Since pipetting is one of the most common tasks carried out in laboratories, and lab professionals often spend several hours pipetting each day. This can cause discomfort and, in more serious cases, even lead to hand or arm injuries. To avoid these potential risks, consider the following features when choosing a pipette:

• Weight: Use micropipettes that are lightweight and well-balanced, with the mass in the centre for better stability. 
• Tip loading and ejection force: Tip loading and ejection often requires more force than pipetting, and presents a potential risk for injuries, especially in high throughput settings. Pipette tips should snap into place with minimal force, provide a secure connection, and eject just as easily. 
• Volume adjustment: Adjusting the volume should be as comfortable and fast as possible, to avoid unnecessary strain on the hands.
• Grip design: The pipette should fit comfortably into the hand, of both left- and right-handed users. 

The overall perspective

As this article shows, there’s a lot to consider. Even after going over the things at the top of most pipette lists, things will be missed. In order to select the right micropipettes for your experiment, you first have to list down every minute detail of the experiment you wish to perform. Once you have decided between an air displacement and a positive displacement micropipette, go through each of the subcategories listed above and systematically choose what exactly the best solution for your case is.

Here in Gaia Science, we know making the right choice of a pipette can be challenging. Since life is already hard enough, let us help you to make it easier. Our trained team of professionals is ready to help you through the selection process from start to finish. Reach out today to start the conversation. Call us at +603 8065 3889 today or send us a message at marketing@gaiascience.com.my. In the meantime, browse through our solutions for pipette HERE.