Pipettes are reliable laboratory appliances that have been used and trusted for decades now. There are many variants of pipettes including the serological pipette that is widely put into the application for the transmission of milliliter volumes of liquid. Known for determining the dispensation and aspiration of the liquids, the serological pipettes come in handy during the accurate and precise transfer of solutions in the lab.
Although there are different sizes of serological pipettes produced to meet a wide array of lab experiments, the precision, and accuracy of the entire experiment completely depend on the competency of the operator’s technique. With that being said, here are some of the ways through which you can ensure the development of a proper pipetting technique and overall precise lab results:
Consider Prewetting the Pipette Tip
When it comes to ensuring precise lab results in pipetting experiments especially while working with volatile samples, the first thing that you should consider doing is prewet the pipette tip at least three times. In case you are wondering what prewetting means in terms of pipetting technique, it implicates aspirating and expelling the sample liquid in order to prevent the chances of a significant loss of the liquid prior to the delivery. When you prewet the sample liquid, it bolsters the humidity that is integrated within the tip, thereby reducing the likeliness of variation in sample evaporation.
Maintain the Temperature Equilibrium
After you are done prewetting the sample liquid, it is time to let the samples and equipment to equilibrate to circulating temperature. The volume of the sample rendered by air displacement serological pipettes differs with air pressure, vapor pressure, and relative humidity of the liquid, where all the attributes are temperature dependent. Therefore, when you perform the pipetting technique at a unique, consistent temperature, it reduces the variation.
Observe the Tip
Prior to dispensing the sample, it is important to meticulously observe the tip and in case if there is liquid present on the outside of the tip, make sure you wipe the tip. However, make sure that there is limited tip wiping because unnecessary tip wiping can lead to sample loss.
Cease Consistently After Aspiration
When you are done aspirating the sample, ensure ceasing with the tip of the sample for a while. This is a crucial aspect of a proper pipetting technique because it takes a few seconds for the liquid in the tip to stop transmitting after the ceasing of the plunger, which means that if you fail to pause for a second, it will end up creating the volume to be low in proportion. Therefore, make sure that there is a brief pause after aspiration to lower the chances of this error.
Avoid Handling the Pipette and Tip
During the final phase of your pipetting experiment, let the pipette set down in between the sample deliveries and minimize handling the tip as much as possible. This is a crucial consideration to make given the fact that the body heat transferred to the appliance while handling changes the consistency and temperature equilibrium.
Conclusion
As said above, the precision and accuracy of the pipetting experiment depend more on the technique of the operator. However, you will definitely need to invest in quality serological pipette to ensure the optimum results. Adhere to these tips and ensure the best possible results in your pipetting experiment.