Pipettes are an essential tool for accurate liquid handling in a variety of applications. They are used to transfer, measure and mix liquids accurately and quickly across a broad range of volumes from nanoliters up to several millilitres.
Pipettes are commonly used in a variety of scientific fields such as chemistry and biology. They are often used to measure and transfer volumes for experiments, titrations, dilutions, and other tasks. In addition to their use in laboratories, pipettes can also be found in medical facilities where they are utilised for sample collection and processing.
Types of Pipettes
When it comes to pipettes, accuracy and precision are essential. While every clinical application has specific requirements for its pipetting needs, some of the best pipette models available have certain features in common: ergonomic design, high-precision mechanics and user-friendly operation.
Here are the five types commonly used for clinical applications:
Single-Channel Pipettes
Single-channel pipettes are the most basic type of pipette, with a single channel for dispensing liquid. Single-channel pipettes are commonly used to measure small quantities of liquids in a laboratory setting.
These pipettes are often made from plastic and feature an adjustable handle for precise volumetric control. Single-channel pipettes offer greater accuracy than other types of pipettes and are ideal for applications that require exact amounts to be measured.
Multichannel Pipettes
Multichannel pipettes are similar to single-channel pipettes, but they feature multiple channels for dispensing multiple liquids at once. These multi channel pipettes are commonly used to measure larger quantities of liquids in a laboratory setting.
Typically, multi channel pipettes are made from durable materials such as plastic or glass and feature an adjustable handle for precise volumetric control.
Repeat Pipette Dispensers
Repeat pipette dispensers are a specialised type of pipette that is designed to dispense multiple liquid samples with precision and accuracy. This type of pipette dispenser features an adjustable handle for precise volumetric control and can be used to dispense different concentrations of liquids, making them ideal for use in a laboratory setting.
Graduated/Serological Pipettes
Graduated/Serological pipettes are one of the most common pieces of laboratory equipment used today. They come in a variety of sizes, from very small 0.1 mL pipettes to larger 10 mL pipettes.
Graduated pipettes have incremental markings along their length which allow for precise measurements when transferring liquids. Graduated/serological pipettes are used in a wide variety of laboratory applications including chemistry, biology, and medical testing.
Disposable/Transfer Pipettes
Disposable/transfer pipettes are most often used for transferring small amounts of liquids from one container to another. These types of pipettes come in a variety of sizes and materials, but are typically made from plastic or paper. Disposable/transfer pipettes are especially useful when working with corrosive chemicals or biological samples that cannot be reused, as it eliminates the need for cleaning and sterilisation of a reusable pipette.
When selecting the right pipette for a given application, there are several important factors to consider, including accuracy, ease of use, safety and cost. Knowing which type of pipette is best suited for a particular laboratory application can be the difference between success and failure. For this reason, it is important to choose the right pipette for every clinical application.
