{"id":16760,"date":"2018-04-17T11:52:42","date_gmt":"2018-04-17T09:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/?p=16760"},"modified":"2026-08-03T15:55:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T13:55:19","slug":"laboratory-pipettes-and-pipette-aids-modern-liquid-handling-in-the-lab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/laboratory-pipettes-and-pipette-aids-modern-liquid-handling-in-the-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Laboratory Pipettes and Pipetting Aids: Modern Liquid Handling in the Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/laboratory-pipettes-and-pipette-aids-modern-liquid-handling-in-the-lab\/#A_Brief_History_of_the_Pipette\" title=\"A Brief History of the Pipette\">A Brief History of the Pipette<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/laboratory-pipettes-and-pipette-aids-modern-liquid-handling-in-the-lab\/#Pasteur_Pipettes_%E2%80%93_Disposable_Types_in_Glass_and_Plastic\" title=\"Pasteur Pipettes \u2013 Disposable Types in Glass and Plastic\">Pasteur Pipettes \u2013 Disposable Types in Glass and Plastic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/laboratory-pipettes-and-pipette-aids-modern-liquid-handling-in-the-lab\/#Volumetric_and_Graduated_Pipettes\" title=\"Volumetric and Graduated Pipettes\">Volumetric and Graduated Pipettes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/laboratory-pipettes-and-pipette-aids-modern-liquid-handling-in-the-lab\/#Pipette_Controllers_Filling_Aids_from_Bulb_to_Battery\" title=\"Pipette Controllers: Filling Aids from Bulb to Battery\">Pipette Controllers: Filling Aids from Bulb to Battery<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/laboratory-pipettes-and-pipette-aids-modern-liquid-handling-in-the-lab\/#Microlitre_Multichannel_and_Repeating_Pipettes_Dosing_at_Scale\" title=\"Microlitre, Multichannel and Repeating Pipettes: Dosing at Scale\">Microlitre, Multichannel and Repeating Pipettes: Dosing at Scale<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/laboratory-pipettes-and-pipette-aids-modern-liquid-handling-in-the-lab\/#Pipetting_Correctly_Common_Pitfalls_to_Avoid\" title=\"Pipetting Correctly: Common Pitfalls to Avoid\">Pipetting Correctly: Common Pitfalls to Avoid<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Anyone who has worked in a lab knows that pipettes are indispensable for handling liquids. Depending on the design, they either transfer liquids simply or dispense them with precision. Laboratory pipettes are straightforward dispensing tools. With them, the user draws a volume of liquid from one vessel and transfers it into a second. Today, laboratory suppliers stock <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipette-and-accessories\">pipettes, pipetting aids and equipment<\/a> in a wide range of designs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Brief_History_of_the_Pipette\"><\/span>A Brief History of the Pipette<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The French scientist Louis Pasteur invented one of the very first pipettes in the 19th century, which is why it still bears the name \u201cPasteur pipette\u201d today. Pasteur co-founded medical microbiology. In 1864, he developed the preservation process named after him, which briefly heats food to between 60 \u00b0C and 100 \u00b0C.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16753\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16753\" style=\"width: 618px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-16753 size-large\" title=\"Pasteur pipette in the laboratory\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/pasteurpipette-im-labor-1024x682.webp\" alt=\"Pasteur pipette in the laboratory\" width=\"618\" height=\"412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/pasteurpipette-im-labor-1024x682.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/pasteurpipette-im-labor-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/pasteurpipette-im-labor-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/pasteurpipette-im-labor.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16753\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center>Pasteur pipette in the laboratory<center><\/center><\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hard as it is to imagine today, laboratories rarely used <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipetting-aids\">pipetting aids<\/a> until the mid-20th century. Instead, technicians commonly pipetted by mouth. This practice carries serious risks, above all with infectious, radioactive and toxic substances. For that reason, the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) now strictly prohibits it. In 1957, Heinrich Schnitger invented a simple piston-stroke pipette. His device solved the problem of mouth pipetting and made transferring many small volumes far easier.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipette-and-accessories\/29958\/precision-pipette-with-digitally-adjustable-volume\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1649 size-full\" title=\"Precision comfort pipettes with a digitally adjustable volume. Well suited for use with gloves.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/praezisions-pipette-mit-digital-einstellbarem-volumen.jpg\" alt=\"Precision pipette with a digitally adjustable volume \u2013 modern laboratory pipettes and pipette aids\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/praezisions-pipette-mit-digital-einstellbarem-volumen.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/praezisions-pipette-mit-digital-einstellbarem-volumen-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Manufacturers called it the Marburg pipette. A spring and a piston allowed it to dispense millilitre volumes. Once the prototype had been refined with the Eppendorf company, mass production began under the name \u201cEppendorf pipette\u201d. Warren Gilson and Henry Lardy developed the first laboratory pipettes with an adjustable volume a little later, in the 1970s. The literature credits the first microlitre pipette partly to Schnitger and partly to Gilson.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Today, a wide variety of pipettes and controllers dispenses volumes as small as the picolitre range. In modern laboratories, robot-controlled systems also dispense liquids with great precision.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pasteur_Pipettes_%E2%80%93_Disposable_Types_in_Glass_and_Plastic\"><\/span>Pasteur Pipettes \u2013 Disposable Types in Glass and Plastic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Pasteur pipette, sometimes called a transfer pipette, is a simple glass tube drawn to a point at one end. At around 2 ml, its volume is fairly small, and it carries no graduations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Small rubber suction bulbs typically serve as the controller here. Suppliers also apply the name Pasteur pipette to disposable plastic versions, which usually come in volumes from 1 to 10 ml. These are moulded in one piece from flexible low-density polyethylene (LDPE), complete with an integrated bulb at the top.<\/p>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipette-and-accessories\/29944\/micro-transfer-pipette\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1616 size-full\" title=\"Micro transfer pipette for the precise and convenient withdrawal and dispensing of small liquid volumes\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mikro-transferpipette.jpg\" alt=\"Micro transfer pipette for the precise and convenient withdrawal and dispensing of small liquid volumes\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mikro-transferpipette.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mikro-transferpipette-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipette-and-accessories\/29940\/pipette-made-of-ldpe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1617 size-full\" title=\"LDPE pipette for use in bacteriology, haematology and blood banks\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipette-aus-ldpe.jpg\" alt=\"Laboratory pipette in LDPE for use in bacteriology, haematology and blood banks\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipette-aus-ldpe.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipette-aus-ldpe-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unlike the glass version, they often do carry graduations. For medical laboratories, sterile disposable plastic variants are available as well. Because these disposables are not calibrated, they suit only the transfer of approximate volumes or drop-by-drop dispensing.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Volumetric_and_Graduated_Pipettes\"><\/span>Volumetric and Graduated Pipettes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For exact volumes, volumetric or graduated pipettes are the right choice. Volumetric pipettes are calibrated to a specific volume, such as 25 ml. In essence, they consist of a long tube with a bulb (a wider section) in the middle and a ring mark, or calibration line, above it. Graduated pipettes, by contrast, keep a constant diameter and carry a scale. This lets the user measure out various volumes, though with lower accuracy than a volumetric one offers.<\/p>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipette-and-accessories\/29942\/universal-measuring-pipette-made-of-ps\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1612 size-full\" title=\"Universal graduated pipette in PP\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/universal-messpipette-aus-pp.jpg\" alt=\"Universal graduated pipette in PP\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/universal-messpipette-aus-pp.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/universal-messpipette-aus-pp-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipette-and-accessories\/29943\/universal-bulb-pipette-made-of-pp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1613 size-full\" title=\"Universal volumetric bulb pipette in PP\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/universal-vollpipette-aus-pp.jpg\" alt=\"Universal volumetric bulb pipette in PP\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/universal-vollpipette-aus-pp.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/universal-vollpipette-aus-pp-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Disposable graduated types in polystyrene (PS) are also common and sell under the name \u201cserological pipettes\u201d. Their measurement error exceeds that of the glass type. In return, they come individually wrapped and sterile, which is why medical laboratories often use them for cell-culture work, for example. As a rule, laboratory pipettes are calibrated to deliver, marked \u201cEx\u201d. Alongside this marking, it usually shows all the key figures: the nominal volume and the \u00b1 tolerance. Manufacturers also grade quality into classes A, B and AS. The table below compares these classes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Comparison of tolerances, delivery times and waiting times for a 25 ml volumetric pipette across the different classes.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\">Class<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">Tolerance \/ %<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">Delivery time \/ s<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">Waiting time \/ s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\">A<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">\u00b1 0.13<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">25\u201350<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">&#8211;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\">AS<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">\u00b1 0.13<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">10\u201315<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\">B<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">\u00b1 0.32<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">10\u201350<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">&#8211;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Class A has a narrowed delivery tip. This lengthens the delivery time but also raises accuracy, because residual liquid on the pipette wall can drain during that time. Class B offers shorter delivery times, yet accepts wider error limits. Class AS models have become very common. They combine a faster delivery time with a low margin of error. One point matters here: they require a 15-second waiting time, which the imprint also states. Pipetting correctly is not intuitive, since a whole series of errors can creep in.<\/p>\n<h3>How to Pipetting Correctly with a Volumetric Pipette<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a general rule, always hold the pipette vertically. A short guide to pipetting with volumetric pipettes runs as follows:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>Hold the pipette in the solution without touching the bottom<\/li>\n<li>Using a controller, draw the liquid to about 5 mm above the calibration mark<\/li>\n<li>Wipe its lower section<\/li>\n<li>Slowly release the liquid down the glass wall of the tilted vessel to the required level. When checking the level, make sure the lowest point of the meniscus touches the calibration line, and keep it at eye level as you read.<\/li>\n<li>Hold it in the target vessel and let the liquid run down the glass wall, again keeping the vessel tilted<\/li>\n<li>Observe the waiting time if required, then wipe off against the glass wall<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If a drop remains, do not try to force it out. The calibration already accounts for that residual drop.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pipette_Controllers_Filling_Aids_from_Bulb_to_Battery\"><\/span>Pipette Controllers: Filling Aids from Bulb to Battery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With volumetric, graduated and serological pipettes, a controller draws the liquid up. Today, most laboratories keep a whole range of such aids on hand. One of the most common is the Peleus ball, invented by Friedrich Pels Leusden. Users favour it above all for its simple operation. Simpler suction bulbs such as the Aspirette and the Howorka ball are also common, though both take more practice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Modern controllers come in manual and battery-operated versions, and the aspiration speed is adjustable. This makes drop-by-drop dispensing possible too.<\/p>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipetting-aids\/29954\/micro-pipetting-aid\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1607 size-full\" title=\"Micro pipette controller, recommended by the Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mikro-pipettierhilfe.jpg\" alt=\"Micro pipette controllers\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mikro-pipettierhilfe.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mikro-pipettierhilfe-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipetting-aids\/29947\/squeeze-bulb-pipette-filler-made-of-nr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1608 size-full\" title=\"Pipette bulb in NR (natural rubber), resistant to chemical influences\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipettierball-aus-nr.jpg\" alt=\"Pipette bulb in NR (natural rubber), resistant to chemical influences\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipettierball-aus-nr.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipettierball-aus-nr-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microlitre_Multichannel_and_Repeating_Pipettes_Dosing_at_Scale\"><\/span>Microlitre, Multichannel and Repeating Pipettes: Dosing at Scale<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Microlitre pipettes and repeating dispensers are dosing instruments that usually let the user set the required volume. For small volumes in the microlitre range (roughly 0.1 \u00b5l to 5 ml), these instruments achieve high accuracy. To stop the solution from being drawn straight into the instrument, they use disposable attachments known as pipette or dispenser tips. The user should not touch these tips by hand at any point during pipetting. Special boxes hold the tips in order and make fitting them easy.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">An ejector button removes the tip, which also allows use under sterile conditions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unlike microlitre or standard laboratory pipettes, repeating dispensers can take up a larger volume and release it in several portions. This spares the user from drawing up liquid each time. Multichannel pipettes work on the same principle as microlitre models. The difference is that they draw up and dispense liquid through 8 to 12 tips arranged in a row, rather than a single tip. In biology and medical technology especially, this aid saves time when working with microtitre plates.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16751\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16751\" style=\"width: 618px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-16751 size-large\" title=\"Laboratory technician using a laboratory pipette and pipette controller\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/laborantin-nutzt-eine-laborpipette-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Laboratory technician using a laboratory pipette and pipette controller\" width=\"618\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/laborantin-nutzt-eine-laborpipette-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/laborantin-nutzt-eine-laborpipette-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/laborantin-nutzt-eine-laborpipette-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/laborantin-nutzt-eine-laborpipette.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16751\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center>Laboratory technician using a laboratory pipette<center><\/center><\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pipetting_Correctly_Common_Pitfalls_to_Avoid\"><\/span>Pipetting Correctly: Common Pitfalls to Avoid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3>Disposable Items<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With disposable plastic items such as Pasteur pipettes or pipette tips, always check how well the plastic resists the solvents in use. Since contact times are usually short, the risk of the plastic being attacked stays fairly low. For that reason, laboratories often reuse disposable items. Should the plastic degrade, however, significant dosing errors can follow.<\/p>\n<h3>Correct Handling<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before you start, consider which type of pipette best suits the task. That assessment should weigh the volume, the solvent and the accuracy required. Correct handling of the chosen tool matters just as much for an exact volume. With micropipettes, a typical error is liquid entering the barrel, for instance when a filled one is laid down. Glass pipettes, by contrast, often lead to errors when reading the meniscus.<\/p>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipette-and-accessories\/29951\/pipette-basket-made-of-hdpe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1652 size-full\" title=\"HDPE pipette basket for immersing pipettes in the pipette container\/pipette washer and for transport\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipettenkorb-aus-hdpe.jpg\" alt=\"HDPE pipette basket for immersing pipettes in the pipette container\/pipette washer\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipettenkorb-aus-hdpe.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipettenkorb-aus-hdpe-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipette-and-accessories\/29952\/pipette-rinser-made-of-pvc-u\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1653 size-full\" title=\"Pipette rinsing unit in PVC-U | with insert basket for pipettes up to 420 mm and 550 mm in length\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipetten-spuelgeraet-aus-pvc-u.jpg\" alt=\"Pipette rinsing unit in PVC-U\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipetten-spuelgeraet-aus-pvc-u.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/pipetten-spuelgeraet-aus-pvc-u-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Correct cleaning is another absolute must for glass pipettes. Only when it is grease-free and clean does the liquid drain properly, avoiding contamination. That is essential for sensitive applications such as trace analysis.<\/p>\n<pre><strong>Image sources:<\/strong>\r\nFeatured image | \u00a9 hakat \u2013 stock.adobe.com\r\nPasteur pipette in the laboratory | \u00a9 pressmaster \u2013 stock.adobe.com\r\nEveryday laboratory scene | \u00a9 Gorodenkoff \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/pre>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Anyone who has worked in a lab knows that pipettes are indispensable for handling liquids. Depending on the design, they either transfer liquids simply or dispense them with precision. Laboratory pipettes are straightforward dispensing tools. With them, the user draws a volume of liquid from one vessel and transfers it into a second. Today, laboratory &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":16750,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[4346,4345,4349,4344,4343,3556,4347,4348,3440],"class_list":["post-16760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-all-articles","tag-graduated-pipettes","tag-laboratory-pipettes","tag-micro-pipette","tag-pasteur-pipette","tag-pipette-made-of-ldpe","tag-pipetting-aids","tag-universal-graduated-pipette-in-pp","tag-universal-volumetric-bulb-pipette-in-pp","tag-volumetric-pipettes"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Laboratory Pipettes: Types, Accuracy &amp; Correct Use<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Laboratory pipettes and pipette aids at a glance: history, types and practical tips for precise 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