Part 1 Setting the Pipette
- Check your pipette plunger button to ensure you have the right one. ...
- Put a tip on your pipette if necessary. Using a pipette without a tip could damage its sensitive inner parts.
- Identify the parts of the pipette. ...
- Prevent damage to your pipette with proper handling. ...
- Adjust the pipette until you reach the desired volume. ...
How do you use a pipette?
With a method that carefully mimics the sucking of a straw, draw a solution upwards through your man-made pipette to your desired volume using the tension created by the reduced air pressure – yes, suction! Maintain the tension with your mouth. Do not suck too hard and inadvertently slurp the solution into your mouth.
What is the purpose of using a mouth pipette?
Mouth pipetting is the practice of using one's mouth to suck a desired volume of a medical laboratory specimen–blood, urine, cell cultures and other microbial stews–into an open-ended tube, using the reduced air pressure created by sucking to hold the specimen in place while moving it to another vessel. Click to see full answer.
Should you touch the tip of the pipette?
Don't touch the tip of the pipette though to avoid introducing an air bubble. Aseptically move the pipette to the receiving vessel and deliver the contents. If you are pipetting a volume between two measurement lines you will not have to 'blow-out'.
How do you use a pipette aid to measure volume?
Instead use a pipette-aide as described below. Pipette-aides or pipettors are suction devices that are used to either suck liquids into or expel liquids out of pipettes. For some types of measurements it may be necessary to expel, or blow-out, the total liquid volume from the pipette using the pipette-aid.
What does it mean to mouth a pipette?
Mouth pipetting is the practice of using one's mouth to suck a desired volume of a medical laboratory specimen–blood, urine, cell cultures and other microbial stews–into an open-ended tube, using the reduced air pressure created by sucking to hold the specimen in place while moving it to another vessel.
Is it okay to pipette by mouth?
Do not ever use your mouth to pull the liquid into a pipet. This is the most common method of becoming poisoned in a chemical laboratory or becoming infected in a clinical laboratory. Mouth pipetting is forbidden in the chemistry department.
Why is mouth pipetting not allowed?
“Mouth pipetting is dangerous because it can lead to accidental poisoning with chem- icals or radioactive materials or illness from infectious organisms,” reminded Helgersen.
How do you use a pipette tool?
1:024:48How to Use the Eye Dropper Tool in Photoshop - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTool as the eyedropper tool what they'll do is they'll just hit foreground color and then if youMoreTool as the eyedropper tool what they'll do is they'll just hit foreground color and then if you move your cursor outside of it it immediately turns. Into the eyedropper.
What should you not do when pipetting?
10 Ways to Abuse a PipetteForgetting your head. When using a pipette, always use a tip. ... The wrong guy for the job. Make sure your tip is the right one for the volume you are pipetting. ... Pushing it too far. ... It's a pipette, not a plunger. ... Leaving it lying around. ... Using it as a backscratcher. ... Holding it wrong. ... Dialing it up.More items...•
Who invented mouth pipetting?
The pipette as we know it today made its debut 60 years ago in 1957 in Germany. Its story begins with the 32-year-old physician Heinrich Schnitger joining Theodor Bücher's research team at the Institute of Physiological Chemistry at the University of Marburg, testing and measuring optical enzymes.
What to do if hair catches on fire in lab?
Extinguish small fires in a container by covering and cutting off the oxygen with a solid ceramic matte. If anyone's hair or clothing catches on fire, immediately try to smother the flames with a wool fireblanket, or cotton clothing. Do not ever try to smother flames with nylon clothing: it could melt onto the skin.
How can a liquid be drawn into a pipette safely?
How can you draw small volumes of liquids into a pipette safely? Draw the chemicals with a pipette bulb. Why is it important to read all the instructions all the way through before beginning an experiment? If you miss a step it can be extremely dangerous.
How do you read a pipette?
Measure using the bottom of the concave surface of the liquid in pipette. This figure illustrates how to read the meniscus on a measuring pipette. Liquid was drawn up to exactly the zero mark and was then dispensed. Reading the value at the bottom of the meniscus shows that 3.19 mL of liquid was delivered.
How do you measure volume using a pipette?
0:492:07Measuring Liquids with an Adjustable Volume Micropipette - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn general twisting the plunger clockwise reduces the volume and twisting the plungerMoreIn general twisting the plunger clockwise reduces the volume and twisting the plunger counterclockwise increases the volume.
What is the function of pipette?
About Pipettes. A pipette is a laboratory instrument used to measure out or transfer small quantities of liquid, in volumes of milliliters (mL), microliters (μL).
What is a pipette used for?
Pipettes are small tools used in laboratories for measuring and transferring small amounts of liquid. They come in several sizes and shapes, with various features and functions. Pipettes help scientists, doctors, and researchers perform experiments and tests by accurately measuring liquid volumes. They must be handled with care and cleaned properly.
How do pipettes work?
Manual pipettes work by using your thumb to draw up and disperse the desired liquid. They are less complicated to use than their mechanical counterparts that often feature a digital interface and work by programming information into the device itself.
How to clean a radioactive pipette?
Use a strong detergent to rinse off radioactive substances . For any radioactive substances, you should rinse the pipette with a strong detergent like Deconex. After, try rinsing the pipette again several times with distilled water. Make sure that you allow the pipette to fully air dry before you begin using it again.
How to clean a pipette with soap?
1. Clean the outside with mild soap. Rinse off the exterior of the pipette with water and apply some mild soap or detergent. Rinse the soap off with running water, then use a clean cloth or paper towel to wipe off any remaining residue. You may also wipe down the exterior of the pipette with rubbing alcohol.
How to disperse liquid in a pipette?
First, depress the pipette plunger and immerse the tip into the desired liquid. Be sure to keep the pipette in a vertical position, then release the plunger. Disperse the liquid with the forward pipetting technique. Depress the pipette plunger to the first stop so that liquid is drawn up into the receiving vessel.
What is the purpose of pipettes in chemistry?
Pipettes are often used in labs—such as chemistry, biology, or medical labs—to transport precise quantities of liquids or other soluble materials.
How to remove nucleic acids from pipette?
Boil pipette pieces and rinse them with water to remove nucleic acids. For nucleic acids, you should boil the pipette pieces in glycine/HCl buffer for ten minutes. Then rinse the pipette pieces with distilled water, rather than using alcohol to clean them.
How do pipettes work?
In a way, pipettes work a lot like drinking straws in that they allow liquids to be 'sucked-up' into one end. They are used to accurately measure and transfer small volumes of liquids. Though they may work like drinking straws, never use your mouth to suck-up liquids into a pipette!
How to use a serological pipette?
The Procedure for Using a Serological Pipette: 1 Without opening the sterile sleeve, look through the wrapper and check that the pipette is calibrated as a 'blow-out' pipette. Also make sure that the tip is not cracked or chipped and check the wrapper hasn't been damaged in any way. 2 Open the wrapper and remove the pipette aseptically and insert the top, wide end into a pipette-aide. 3 Fill the pipette a bit above the capacity line desired and then slowly lower the meniscus to that capacity line. 4 Remove the pipette from the vessel, allowing the outside of the pipette to gently touch the inner lip of the vessel to remove any adherent liquid. Don't touch the tip of the pipette though to avoid introducing an air bubble. 5 Aseptically move the pipette to the receiving vessel and deliver the contents. If you are pipetting a volume between two measurement lines you will not have to 'blow-out'. However if you are delivering the entire contents of the pipette you will have to 'blow-out' the remaining liquid in the tip with a firm puff of air from the pipette-aide. 6 Remove the pipette aseptically and discard it into an appropriate discard container.
What is a pipette aide?
Pipette-aides or pipettors are suction devices that are used to either suck liquids into or expel liquids out of pipettes. For some types of measurements it may be necessary to expel, or blow-out, the total liquid volume from the pipette using the pipette-aid.
What is a Mohr pipette?
Mohr pipettes are another type of pipette. Mohr pipettes are not 'blow-out' type, nor are the tips part of the measurement. Here is an example of how Mohr pipettes are used: These types of pipettes are only used to measure using a point-to-point delivery system.
Do you blow out a pipette?
If you are pipetting a volume between two measurement lines you will not have to 'blow-out'. However if you are delivering the entire contents of the pipette you will have to 'blow-out' the remaining liquid in the tip with a firm puff of air from the pipette-aide.
Can you use a serological pipette aseptically?
The Procedure for Using a Serological Pipette: Most of our work is done with sterile pipettes and if so, the operations are done aseptically. When working with non-sterile pipettes it is a good idea to work aseptically anyway as a matter of routine in order to practice the technique. Without opening the sterile sleeve, ...
How to use a pipette?
The first step when using a pipette is setting the pipette to your desired volume. To do this, locate the small window on your pipette that has three numbers in it. If your pipette has a lock/unlock switch, switch it to the unlock position. Then, turning the plunger clockwise or counter-clockwise until you reach the desired amount.
What do you need to pipette?
To pipette, you will need:#N#-A pipette#N#-A box of tips#N#-A container holding the solution you wish to pipette#N#-An empty container for the solution (s) to be transferred into#N#-A clean working space#N#-A waste bin#N#-Gloves if you don't like your hands getting dirty or you are working with potentially hazardous materials
How to get rid of a pipette tip?
To do this, press down on the tip ejector button, which is a small button usually next to the plunger, while holding the pipette over a waste bucket. This will move a metal or plastic arm down, forcing the tip off of the pipette. It is always a good idea to change tips when you are changing solutions, or if it touches any surface; these both reduce risks of contamination.#N#Congratulations, you made it! You have successfully learned how to pipette. Now that you know this essential science skill, a world of pipetting possibility awaits!
How to remove a pipette from a container?
Slowly push the plunger down all the way to the first stop, then the second stop to make sure all solution has been pushed out of the tip. Once done, remove the pipette from the container and close the lid.
What is a pipette in science?
2. Introduction: How to Pipette. Using a pipette is an essential part of working in a science laboratory. Pipettes, specifically micro-pipettes, are used for accurately measuring and transferring small amounts of solutions from on container to another.
How many uL is a P20 pipette?
Although each pipette brand varies slightly, micro-pipettes generally come in three sizes; the P20 which can pipette from 2-20 uL, the P200 which can pipette volumes from 20-200, and the P1000, which - you guessed it - can pipette volumes ranging from 200-1000 uL or 1 mL. Continue reading for step-by-step instructions on how to use a pipette.
What is the first stop on a pipette?
The first stop is the stop that changes; it is the amount that you set the pipette to in the previous step, and it is shown by the first picture. The second stop, shown in the second picture, is an extra 'push' that it sometimes needed to remove all of the liquid from the tip.
We should count ourselves lucky
What did scientists do before the invention of the sophisticated plastic pipettes?
How to pipette with precision
Pipettes are designed to transfer volumes within a given range. You should therefore find the correct pipette for the volume you are aiming to transfer. Pipetting volumes that are too low can cause you to lose precision, and pipetting volumes that are too high can damage the pipette.
So what can I use pipetting for?
Pipetting is a key part of countless lab techniques, but here are just two common techniques requiring good pipetting skills.
Your Challenge
The best way to get a good grasp on these techniques is to try them out yourself.
