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.