We all make mistakes as lab technicians. We makes it a priority for scientists to avoid making mistakes and minimize the risk of making them. We believe that we can address all factors and reduce pipetting errors by taking a holistic approach. This includes standardizing pipette calibration, pipette repair and pipette training. Here are our top 10 routine steps technicians can use to prevent pipetting mistakes from happening. These steps are worth considering next time you pipet.

1. Your pipette should be cleaned and checked daily. A clean pipette will ensure accuracy. Before you begin work, make sure your pipette is in good working order.
2. Your pipette should be serviced every six months. Depending on the accuracy of your results, you may need to service it every six months. This involves completely disassembling the pipette to re-calibrate and replace any damaged parts. To ensure reliable service, it is important that your laboratory does not service its pipettes.
3. Proper pipetting techniques are essential: Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pipetter, these are the best techniques to use when pipetting.
   • Slow down and practice smooth motions
   • The tip of the pipette should be pre-wetted
   • When drawing in liquid, hold the pipette vertically and at a 45 degree angle for dispensing
   • During aspiration, dip the tip into the liquid.
   • The pipette should be touched to the container’s sidewall
4. The right pipette is needed: Use a pipette that has a volume selection that is closest to the volume you intend to aspirate or dispense. If there is only a slight difference in the volume minimum and the volume you are testing, your test will be more accurate. Example: A 1mL pipette is not ideal if you have to dispense 15 microliters. However, a 20 microliter pipette is an excellent choice.
5. Be aware of the environment: Take into account temperature, humidity, and pressure. Because liquids are sensitive to environmental changes, an inconsistent environment can affect the accuracy and precision of your results. Before recording your results, it is important to consider the temperature of the liquids and to dispense them once.
6. Allow your pipette to adapt to the environment. If your pipette is exposed to temperature changes or new conditions, it is recommended to allow them to adjust. You will see fewer environmental variables that can affect your results.
7. Protect your pipette: It is essential to achieve precise results. Don’t leave it behind! When you aren’t using your pipette, don’t hold it. Never place it on the bench. It should always be on a stand. It should always be kept upright. These pipetting tips will ensure that your pipette stays clean and in top shape.
8. You can take a break if you are caught up in the middle of an impossible task. Your results will be more accurate if your mind, muscles and eyes are clear. Fatigue can lead to sloppiness or mistakes. You must maintain good posture when performing time-sensitive tests. Keep your elbows in and your arms forward.
9. Always use a different tip: It’s why your laboratory seems to have infinite numbers of pipette tip options. This is so that you can test every new liquid with a different tip. Cross contamination is possible if the tip is used repeatedly for different substances and tests. Cross contamination can occur in the same way as when a doctor uses the same tip for different tests and substances. A pipette servicer needs to change the tip before testing any new substance.
10. You can practice and practice. As with all things, the more experience you have, the better your outcome will be. An experienced pipette technician will have the expertise, reliability, experience, and accuracy required to perform proper performance evaluations and maintenance.

No lab technician can be perfect, and no pipette can be trusted to work perfectly. The best way to reduce error margins and give confidence to customers and technicians is to follow the tips above. This will ensure that you get results that are accurate and precise.

How can I improve my accuracy in pipetting?

1. Pre-wet your pipette tip. Before you aspirate for delivery, fully expel the liquid at least three more times. …
2. For droplets, examine the tip of your pipette. …
3. Always pause. …
4. Reduce tip and pipette handling. …
5. Make sure you use the right tip for your pipette.

Which is the biggest source of pipetting issues?

The most common cause of pipetting problems is human error. Liquids sticking to the tips and accuracy issues when working with viscous fluids are also causes. (Multi-option select question, chart shows the percentage of respondents who have experienced these pipetting mistakes).

What are some common mistakes in using a micropipette?

Pipetting at incorrect angles. When aspirating, your pipette must be straight. Another common error in pipetting is to work too fast while pipetting. After aspirating, let the liquid settle in the tip of the pipette.

How can you reverse pipetting?

1. Adjust the volume of the pipette.
2. Completely depress the plunger – from the first stop to a second (blowout).
3. Place the tip in the liquid and gradually release the plunger until it reaches full extension.
4. Press the first stop to disengage.
5. The tip will retain a small amount of liquid.

How can you stop bubbles pipetting?

Concentrate on angles: In order to ensure that all liquid is dispensed and no air bubbles are created, aspirate at an angle of 90 degrees and dispense at 45 degrees. Slowly release pipettes: You shouldn’t let the plunger go too fast after you have dispensed the liquid from your pipette.

What are the most common pipetting mistakes?

• Failure to Pre-Wet Pipette Tip. …
• Disregarding Temperature. …
• Tip Wiping. …
• The Wrong Pipetting Method. …
• Not Working Fast Enough …
• Pipetting from an Angle. …
• Use the Wrong Tips for Pipettes

What are the mistakes in pipetting?

A dirty pipet can cause too little or contaminated solution not to be delivered. It is possible to deliver too little solution if there are not enough droplets on the walls. The liquid is usually sucked into the bulb by forcing the pipet into it.

What are some common mistakes made when measuring liquids?

• It is not possible to account for the viscosity of a sample. Consider, for instance, a sample containing large sticky molecules such as glucose. …
• Dispensing Liquids Too Quickly. …
• Contamination By “Double Dipping” …
• Cleaning irregularly – or not at all. …
• Take a break only at the end of a project.

How can you control the solution in a pipette?

Place the tip of your pipet against the wall in the container to transfer the solution at a angle of 10-20 degrees. Allow the liquid to slowly drain from the pipet. Slow down the flow so that no drops stick to the pipet’s interior.

Why is it not good pipetting technique to not put your pipet tip all of the way to the bottom of the tube that you are pipetting from?

This tip immersion is way too deep

This can lead to problems such as touching the tube’s bottom, or the vial you are extracting from. This can block part of the tip’s opening, which reduces the volume of liquid that enters the tip. This can lead to underdelivery.

Why shouldn’t a micropipette be allowed to fall?

It is essential to ensure that the tip and pipette are sealed tightly. Otherwise, your solution will not be accurate. Throw away any tip that falls off. For experiments, a sterile tip will be necessary. Otherwise contamination could ruin your results.

Is reverse pipetting possible?

Forward pipetting can be more accurate in dispensing small quantities of liquids containing proteins or biological solutions than reverse pipetting. This is mainly used for aqueous solutions such as buffers and diluted acids.

What factors affect pipetting performance?

• Temperature. Pipetting accuracy is affected by temperature. …
• Density. Density (mass/volume ratio). This determines how much liquid is aspirated to the tip. …
• Altitude. Air pressure can affect accuracy due to geographic altitude.

Why shouldn’t you touch the tips of your micropipette?

The tips are sterile so avoid touching them, especially the thinner ends. The micropipette’s plunger should be pressed to the FIRST stop. For best results, do not exceed 20 degrees from the vertical. The tip has received the entire volume of the sample.

What is an acceptable error in pipetting?

The relative error can vary across the pipette range. For example, a 10-100mL pipette with 100 mL is subject to a relative systematic error of +-2.0%. At 10 mL, the relative systematic error stands at +-20.0%.

How can systematic errors be detected?

You can also detect systemic errors by measuring quantities already known. … These errors cannot be corrected by repeating measurements or average large numbers of results. Calibration of the measurement instrument is a common way to eliminate systematic error.

What are the benefits of automatic pipetting

Automated pipettes are able to take out the tedious repetitive work of pipetting and offer many benefits. The most obvious benefit is the greatly increased throughput. Automation frees up time and effort to do other tasks. A second benefit is improved reproducibility.

Are random errors possible to correct?

You can reduce random error by using an average measurement taken from several measurements or. Increasing the sample size

If you push the Micropipettor to the second stop, it will fill.

He claims that pushing towards the second stop can cause the vacuum to distort and allow you to draw in more liquid when you use it again. It’s better to leave some liquid in your tip than change it.

What is Forward and Reverse Pipetting?

For most aqueous solutions, forward pipetting is the preferred method. For viscous liquids, foaming liquids and very small volumes, reverse pipetting is recommended. Additional blow-out volume can be aspirated in step one and remains in the tip of the pipette until it is discarded.

Why is it important to avoid air bubbles during pipetting?

When performing an ELISA test, careful pipetting is essential to obtain accurate results. Sometimes, air can be drawn into the pipette and dispensed into wells. Bubbles can affect optical density values and result.

How can you get bubbles from a microplate?

Bottom readers with clear bottom plaques are the easiest. A hot needle tip can also burst bubbles. It works well most of the time. I use a 16-gauge needle to get at the bubbles. Another thing that works well is to leave the plate in an incubator for a while.