Top 10 tips to avoid contamination in pipetting

Top 10 tips to avoid contamination in pipetting

Overview

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  • Source: Sartorius

  • Date: 01 Aug,2021

Preventing contamination in pipetting is paramount to achieving reliable results. It requires identification of the potential contamination mechanisms in order that they can all be addressed. Aerosols, suspensions of solid or liquid particles in a gas, are formed in many laboratory activities such as pipetting with air displacement pipettes, and aerosols are the major contamination source in pipetting. They may transfer into the pipette body when unfiltered pipette tips are used and consequently contaminate subsequent samples.

Pipetting is one of the most common tasks performed in a laboratory on a daily basis. Studies show that more than 40% of lab professionals suffer from pipetting-caused disorders. In addition to causing discomfort to the user, the hand and arm injuries reduce the working ability and thus the accuracy, precision and reliability of the results.

By becoming aware of your personal ergonomic risk factors and eliminating them, you can reduce your risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI) while pipetting.

Three ways to ease your pipetting work and minimize the related risks:

  1. Choose the most suitable pipette for your personal need
  2. Set up your workstation to support a neutral posture
  3. Take a break after every 20 minutes of pipetting

To achieve the highest level of accuracy, you should choose the smallest volume pipette capable of handling the volume in question. This is important because pipette is most accurate at nominal (maximum) volume. It is a well-recognized fact that even slight muscle fatigue reduces the output when performing work that requires precision. Therefore, in order to maintain the performance, pipettes which require high forces should be avoided.

PD-pipetting-angles-illustration-Sartorius-0

Moreover, heavy pipettes fatigue the user, selecting an ergonomic pipette allows precise operation. Electronic pipettes can be considered when number of samples is high or when reducing variance in pipetting is important. A multichannel pipette can significantly speed up working with 96 and 384 well plates.

“To achieve the highest level of accuracy, you should choose the smallest volume pipette capable of handling the volume in question.

Do you know how to choose a pipette?

There are two principles of how pipettes work, air displacement and positive displacement. The majority of pipettes used in laboratories work according to air displacement principle due to their wide applicability and lower costs of consumables. Positive displacement pipettes are sometimes used with problematic liquids, but air displacement pipettes can be used as well with correct techniques. An electronic pipette can eliminate a lot of the variance from pipetting and also variance between users. With an electronic pipette the piston movement is controlled automatically regardless of the user.

To achieve the highest level of accuracy, you should choose the smallest volume pipette capable of handling the volume in question. Moreover, heavy pipettes fatigue the user, selecting an ergonomic pipette allows precise operation.

Electronic pipettes can be considered when number of samples is high or when reducing variance in pipetting is important. A multichannel pipette can significantly speed up working with 96 and 384 well plates.

So which are the best pipettes?

Different pipettes can fit different application, for example when working only with few samples a mechanical pipette is good choice, but when working with 96 microwell plates multichannel pipette is a better option.

Electronic pipette for Liquid handling

But in general lighter pipettes are better ergonomically, electronic pipettes can reduce the variance, and using tips and pipettes from the same manufacturer creates the most accurate system. Remember that choosing the right tip is as important as choosing the right pipette!

8 Steps to proper pipetting:

  1. Plan the pipetting steps, especially with applications where contamination can be an issue.
  2. Select a pipette that covers the volume you desire to transfer.
  3. Select tips that fit the pipette.
  4. Adjust and lock the volume to prevent accidental volume changes.
  5. Select technique according to liquid.
  6. Operate plunger slowly and smoothly, or with an electronic pipette select correct speed.
  7. Remember good ergonomics, to protect yourself from accumulating strain.
  8. Store pipettes in stand and make sure they are maintained and calibrated regularly.

Here I am sharing with you the top 10 tips to avoid contamination while pipetting: 

  1. Clean your pipettes regularly
  2. Use safe cone filters or filter tips
  3. Choose Air tight tie wrapping
  4. Check tip purity certification and testing limits
  5. Be smart in multi dispensing
  6. Use stands for storage
  7. Restrict the chances of contamination to spread
  8. Avoid splashes
  9. Ensure the tip sterility
  10. Use tips long enough to avoid contamination of the pipette

Story source/Credit: Sartorius

References:

  1. Application Note on Pipette Contamination
  2. How the Use of Ergonomic Pipettes and Good Pipetting Technique Can Improve the Quality of Assay Results
  3. Improving Accuracy Serial Dilutions Using the Electronic Pipette
  4. Application Note on Pipette Contamination
  5. How the Use of Ergonomic Pipettes and Good Pipetting Technique Can Improve the Quality of Assay Results
  6. Improving Accuracy Serial Dilutions Using the Electronic Pipette

About Sartorius:

The Sartorius Group is a leading international partner of the biopharmaceutical industry and the research sector. We are helping biotech scientists and engineers across the entire globe to develop and manufacture medications from the first idea to production. So more people will have access to better medicine. Ergonomics, Design and Reliability – form the cornerstone of Sartorius products. Sartorius pipettes and pipette tips raise your pipetting to a whole new level ensuring repeatable and reliable results. Enjoy the experience with Sartorius products and feel the new standard of pipetting in your hand.

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