Pipetting Techiques


Steps:
  1. Choose the right pipette
  2. Select the volume
  3. Set the tip
  4. Press and hold the plunger at the first stop
  5. Place the tip in the liquid
  6. Slowly release the plunger (keeping the tip in the liquid all the time when you draw large amounts)
  7. Pause for a second and remove the tip
  8. Insert the tip into the delivery vessel
  9. Press the plunger to the second stop for 2 seconds
  10. Remove the tip
  11. Release the plunger
  12. Eject the tip into waste container
Common errors
  1. Do not use a pipette without a tip attached (it will damage the pipette and cause crosscontamination)
  2. Do not use a pipette past it's volume limits (it causes inacuracy and damages the pipette)
  3. Do not repetedly jam a pipette into a plastic tip (it can damage the pipette)
  4. Make sure the tip is securely sealed (if it is too loose it causes inacuracy)
  5. When drawing up the liquid do not push the top down past the first stop (if you do you will draw too much liquid)
  6. After pushing the top of the pipette either to the first or second stop do not just let the top go, release it slowly in controlled manner
  7. Wait for enough time for the liquid to be drawn into the tip (if you remove the tip from the liquid too quickly, you will draw air insted)
  8. Make sure that the tip stays below the surface of the liquid all the time while drawing it up, especially when drawing up large volumes
© Department of Physiology
McGill University 2020
References