When it comes to lab work, the handling of liquids is a process that needs to be done with maximum precision and safety at all times, whether you’re conducting routine tests or handling highly volatile compounds. Part of this handling is measurement and transfer. How do you make sure this is done with absolute precision? This is where the automatic pipette comes into play. It’s an indispensable tool that helps scientists immensely, streamlining workflow and mitigating human error.
In this blog, we’ll go over exactly what it is, how it works, and how your lab can benefit from its use.
What Is an Automatic Pipette?
Much more precise than a manual pipette, an auto pipette aspirates and dispenses highly precise amounts of liquid on a consistent basis, with minimal manual input required. Whereas a manual version relies on human dexterity, its automatic counterpart utilizes mechanical and electronic functions to maximize precision and speed on a consistent basis.
There are various types of automatic pipettes that are ideal choices for a variety of work types.
- Single-Channel: Used to transport liquid one channel at a time. This is a common type, used in most general lab environments.
- Multi-Channel: This allows for simultaneous dispensing through multiple channels, which is ideal for high-throughput tasks.
- Electronic: These have various electronic functions that can be programmed by the user. Digital displayed and motorized dispensing allows for incredibly accurate control.
Key Components
When you understand the basic components of an automatic pipette, you can use and maintain it properly. Let’s go over the primary parts:
- Plunger/Button Mechanism: This feature initiates aspiration and dispensing. Note that electronic models may have programmable buttons in place of a plunger.
- Tip Ejector: A mechanism that allows the user to dispose of tips without touching them.
- Digital Volume Display: Exclusive to electronic pipettes, this displays vital information such as target volume.
- Disposable Pipette Tips: Vital for preventing cross-contamination. These should be disposed of after one use.
How Does an Automatic Pipette Work?
An auto pipette functions by utilizing air or positive-displacement mechanisms. If you’re operating one, here is the general process:
- Adjust the volume dial, or input it on the digital display if you’re using an electronic pipette.
- Place a sterile tip on the end of the pipette. This tip will be disposed of when you’re finished.
- Press the plunger to the first stop, place the tip into the liquid, and release to draw the proper amount of liquid.
- Place the tip into the opening of the target container and press the plunger. This will dispense the liquid.
Air displacement is one of two main operation mechanisms, using an air cushion that sits between the piston and the liquid. Positive displacement, on the other hand, sees the piston contact the liquid directly, which minimizes evaporation and improves performance with volatile and viscous liquids.
Benefits of Using Automatic Pipettes
There are various advantages to using an automatic pipette in your lab, such as:
- Enhanced Accuracy and Repeatability: The possibility of human error and variability is kept to a minimum.
- Improved Ergonomics: Less force is required, which mitigates strain on the hand and reduces injuries from repetitive stress.
- Increased Efficiency: Automation greatly speeds up workflows, which leads to high productivity. This is especially useful in high-volume lab environments.
Lab Applications
There are several scientific disciplines that lend themselves to the use of an auto pipette. For example, it’s an invaluable tool in clinical diagnostics where patient samples and reagents need to be handled with the utmost care. In pharmaceutical research, dosing requires maximum precision, which can’t be achieved consistently through the use of a manual pipette. In the field of molecular biology and chemistry, there are various uses—a primary one being in PCR, ELISA, and titration, in which exact measurements are vital to the research.
Find the Perfect Automatic Pipette at BaneBio
The importance of the auto pipette in a laboratory cannot be understated. It’s a vital tool in many types of research and lab procedures, offering maximum precision and efficiency. Your researchers will save valuable time through their use, freeing them up to focus on tasks that require more manual processes.
If your laboratory doesn’t yet have these pipettes, we know the perfect place to get them. Get in touch with BaneBio and stock up on these vital tools!