The department at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry has around 35 staff, with one-third of them working across 2 cell culture labs, handling a variety of mammalian and stem cell lines. The department has extensive experience with cell culture and used many brands of pipetting aids to accomplish the various tasks involved in its workflows. The team has been using INTEGRA’s PIPETBOY pipet controllers for some years now, but recently acquired 4 PIPETBOY GENIUS serological pipet controllers to further enhance the accuracy, precision and speed of the liquid handling steps required for cell culture workflows. Albert Ries, a technician with over 30 years of experience performing cell cultures, explained this decision-making process: “We have been using INTEGRA’s PIPETBOY pipet controllers for a long time, and everyone is satisfied with them. A representative from INTEGRA presented the PIPETBOY GENIUS to us when it was first launched last year, and convinced us to try it out. After some testing, we unanimously voted to fully equip our cell culture labs with the new controllers, as we saw their potential for helping us in daily tasks, and ended up purchasing 4 of them.”

Precise and productive one-handed dispensing

A new feature of the PIPETBOY GENIUS that Albert and his team have found particularly beneficial to their workflows is the repeat dispense function, which works in combination with INTEGRA serological pipets. “We’ve found the repeat dispense function incredibly useful,” Albert continued. “It’s so convenient to simply press a button and dispense. You don’t have to read the volume every time, which makes filling multiple wells fast, easy and – most importantly – precise. Most serological pipet controllers simply don’t have this – you usually have to read the pipet graduations and control the volume yourself.”

Albert outlined how some of the device’s other features benefit his team’s daily work in the lab: “One of the main things we use the controllers for is pipetting into culture dishes containing cell monolayers. These monolayers are very delicate, and would be ripped if the liquid flow from the pipet were too strong. In the past, before we had the PIPETBOY GENIUS, it was tricky to avoid spill-over when using small dishes and well plates, which can lead to unwanted mixing between neighboring wells. The PIPETBOY GENIUS controllers are very sensitive to variations in finger pressure, so we now have much finer control over liquid flow. The flow speed of the devices also follows a sigmoid curve, so that it starts slower to avoid splashing, and then picks up speed before slowing down again when you are approaching your preset volume. That's something I have never experienced with a serological pipet controller before, and it’s so helpful when working with very small wells in particular.”

A steady hold, every time

The PIPETBOY GENIUS features a Steady-Grip system that ensures firm handling of serological pipets from 1 to 100 ml in volume. This has been a key benefit for Albert, especially when handling larger volumes: “We handle many different volumes in our everyday applications; we have to dispense larger volumes of media, and multiple small volumes of substances like trypsin to release cells, so we need to be able to switch between pipets quickly and confidently. Other pipet controllers use rubber cones to grip the pipets, and these wear out over time, losing their stability. The PIPETBOY GENIUS has a unique gripper mechanism that holds every pipet securely, regardless of its size or weight. When I insert a pipet into the PIPETBOY GENIUS, it locks in with a firm and stable grip right away, and I can feel solid resistance, so I always know it's properly held in place. Now I never worry about pipets slipping or falling out, even heavy, fully filled 25 ml pipets. What really stands out is that the grip doesn't degrade with use; each pipet is held just as firmly as the last. It’s a clever improvement that solves a problem most people don’t even realize can be fixed.”

Designed with the user in mind

Ergonomics is another crucial consideration for Albert and the team when deciding on a new product for the department: “We often spend hours at the bench pipetting, so having equipment that makes the process more comfortable and efficient is essential for reducing both mental and physical fatigue. The PIPETBOY GENIUS is incredibly light, and I’m honestly surprised that INTEGRA managed to fit all its advanced features into such a compact design. The handling is smooth and effortless, and the device feels great in the hand. The functionality has been clearly updated and improved, but it’s still easy to pick up and become proficient with quickly, thanks to its intuitive design. I feel like the INTEGRA engineers really took the time to talk with people who work with cell cultures and observe what we actually need. The PIPETBOY GENIUS feels like the result of that. It’s been a big help for our team, truly improving liquid handling in cell culture workflows.”

“I would absolutely recommend the PIPETBOY GENIUS to my peers. As a technician, my priority is making sure that those of us working at the bench have the best, most comfortable and most efficient tools available, and this device truly delivers. I’d recommend it to anyone in the field,” Albert concluded.