The complete guide to micropipettes
The complete guide to micropipettes
To help you master the art of pipetting, we have compiled a complete guide to micropipettes. You'll learn about the different types and how to choose the right one for your work. Moreover, we've also included advice for proper pipetting and information on different types of pipette tips and when to use them.
What is a micropipette?
Micropipettes, also referred to as pipettes or microliter pipettes, are essential pieces of lab equipment used to accurately and precisely transfer small volumes of liquid. Micropipettes can be divided into different categories, such as air displacement and positive displacement pipettes, adjustable and fixed volume pipettes, manual and electronic pipettes or single channel and multichannel pipettes.
More information on the different types of micropipettes can be found below.
- air displacement, positive displacement, adjustable and fixed volume micropipettes: Everything you need to know about the different types of pipettes
- manual and electronic micropipettes: 5 reasons why you should use electronic pipettes
- single channel micropipettes
- multichannel micropipettes
Proper pipetting: How to correctly use a micropipette
Micropipettes are routinely used in laboratories, but even when lab professionals follow the same protocols every time, inconsistencies in liquid handling techniques can lead to poor data and reproducibility concerns. Therefore, ensuring correct and consistent pipetting technique is just as critical for successful projects as pipette calibration, repair and maintenance.
We have put together several helpful articles to provide you general rules as well as tips and tricks for correct pipetting. By following these simple guidelines, you can:
- enhance the reproducibility and reliability of results by achieving accuracy and precision for each aspiration and dispense;
- maintain consistent operation of both manual and electronic micropipettes;
- improve the pipetting of challenging liquids, such as viscous and volatile liquids
- and ensure proper maintenance to prolong the lifespan of your micropipettes.
Check out these articles to learn more:
- Proper pipetting: 10 tips on how to use a micropipette
- Pipetting tips to improve accuracy and precision
- How to pipette viscous and volatile liquids
- How INTEGRA’s electronic micropipettes make your lab life much better [Video tutorials]
- Calibration check: How to calculate the accuracy and precision of a micropipette
- How to clean micropipettes [incl. decontamination and storage tips]
How to choose the right micropipette
Selecting the right micropipette can be key to the success of your work. It not only ensures the reliability of your experiments but can also boost your efficiency and reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries. If you'd like to learn more about the most important considerations to take into account when choosing a micropipette, read the 2 articles below.
Micropipette tips
Micropipette tips are disposable plastic consumables made of polypropylene and are available in a variety of different versions, such as non-sterile, sterile, filtered, unfiltered, long, short, low retention and wide bore. If you'd like to learn more about what each of these options is good for, check out the following article.
Conclusion
With this complete guide to micropipettes, you can enhance the reproducibility and reliability of your results, boost your efficiency, and reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or a student new to the lab, these resources will help you master the art of pipetting and ensure the success of your projects.