Types of Pipettes and How to Choose the Right One

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A man in a lab coat uses a pipette while conducting an experiment in a laboratory setting.

Introduction

A pipette is a crucial laboratory instrument that enables both precision and control when transferring liquids, whether it be microliters or milliliters so that experiments can be replicated and trust in research, diagnostic, or chemistry experiments can be applied.

At LabPRO, we offer a comprehensive selection and range of pipettes & consumables including High Precision Micropipettes, Electronic Pipettes, and Serological and Pasteur Pipettes, with an extensive selection of Pipette Tips that are best suited for precision liquid handling and specific chromatography workflows (HPLC, LC, GC) found in our Lab Essentials and QuickFit lines.

In this article, we will cover the different pipette types, biobased applications of pipettes, as well as tips to transfer accurate volumes of your liquids included with examples of LabPRO’s precision pipettes applied to trusted lab workflows.

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What Is a Pipette?

A pipette (or pipet) is a standard laboratory instrument employed to accurately measure and transfer small amounts of liquid. A pipette is crucial to chemistry, biology, and science experiments where accuracy is essential.

A pipette will pull liquid into its tip and will push liquid out of the tip by creating a partial vacuum to displace the air inside, allowing the liquid to be dispensed in precise volume. This will yield precise and replicable results every time.

Pipettes come in various forms, ranging from basic glass pipettes to adjustable or electronic pipettes, to accommodate different laboratory practices.

  • Precision: Accurate measurement in milliliters (mL), or microliters (μL).
  • Function: Used to transport, mix or dispense liquids during laboratory experiments.
  • Application: Typical used in research, diagnostics, pharmacies, or teaching.

Types of Pipettes and Their Uses

Various pipettes exist for specific types of laboratory work, whether it is handling small volumes for a micro-scale experiment or for use with general media. Choosing the appropriate pipette for the volume of liquid to be transferred will improve accuracy and efficiency in all procedures, as well as allow for better ergonomics in the laboratory.

Close-up of a LabPro Micropipette showing the ergonomic handle, adjustable volume dial, and a disposable tip attached

Micropipettes: Precision at the Micro Scale

  • Handle extremely small volume, typically < 1 mL (up to 1000 µL)
  • Air displacement micropipettes offer high accuracy in fixed or variable volumes.
  • Multichannel micropipettes allow for the same size volume to be pipetted into multiple wells on a microplate.
LabPRO electronic pipettes for precise liquid handling

Electronic Pipettes: Ergonomic and Efficient

  • Reduce strain on the body when transferring multiple volumes of reagents using battery-powered operation.
  • When handling same volume samples, pipettes provide consistent, repeatable results.
  • Programs have options to set certain functions like Mult dispensing, which allows aliquots to be dispensed more quickly.
Set of labpro serological pipettes in various sizes.

Serological Pipettes: Versatility with Media Transfer

  • Graduated pipette for volumes that are > 1 mL (up to 100 mL) where no exact volume needs to be dispensed.
  • Usually disposable, and used with a filler, to transfer any liquid media, buffer, or reagent from one location to another.
  • Common in cell culture, or tissue culture applications in lab settting.
Set of three LabPRO Pasteur pipettes for precise liquid measuremen

Pasteur Pipettes: Simple Liquid Transfers

  • Non-graduated pipette for smaller and general transfers of non-exacting volumes.
  • Operated with a bulb or device (like a pipette gun) to transfer the liquid out in drops.
  • Great for clinical, industrial, or general laboratory work and for transferring liquid where you do not need perfect measurements.

Explore LabPRO for a full range of precision pipettes and pipettes tips HERE

How to Choose the Right Pipette

Choosing an appropriate pipette is vital for accuracy, efficiency, and safety in the laboratory. The selection of the pipette depends on your target volume, type of liquid, processes, and ergonomic needs. Here are some important things to consider:

Determine the Volume and Precision Requirements

  • When deciding on a pipette, select a pipette with a volume range that will accommodate your target samples.
  • For example, Volumetric pipettes are useful for the highest accuracy in fixed volumes while adjustable micropipette would be better suited for variable microliter volumes.

Match the Pipetting Principle to the Type of Liquid

  • Air-displacement pipettes are great for most routine aqueous solutions.
  • For sophisticated liquids (e.g. viscous, volatile, extreme temperature, etc.), a positive-displacement pipette can be used for accuracy and contamination avoidance.

Evaluate Your Throughput and Format

  • Use a single-channel pipette for a single sample.
  • For higher-throughput, such as ELISA or PCR, use a multichannel pipette when working with plates, especially 96 or 384-well plates.

Think About Ergonomics and Repetitiveness

  • A lightweight, ergonomic pipette with low plunger and tip ejection force is extremely helpful to reduce strain.
  • Use of electronic pipettes or automated liquid handlers can speed up the process, improve consistency and ease of use, especially for repetitive pipetting tasks.

Check Compatibility of Labware and Tips

  • To ensure compatibility, confirm pipette tip and instrument compatibility with your tubes, plates or other labware.
  • Precise and reliable pipetting is fundamentally dependent on high-quality and compatibility of pipette tips.

Conclusion

Selecting the appropriate pipette is important to achieve accuracy, efficiency and comfort in any laboratory workflow. The right pipette will contribute to reliable results and care for the user and samples, when taking into consideration liquid volume, liquid type, throughput, ergonomics and labware.

Ready to stock your lab with pipettes that match your workflow?

At LabPRO, we provide a full range of precision pipettes, electronic pipettes, and pipette tips designed to meet the demands of research, diagnostics, and industrial labs. Explore our selection today to find the tools that support accurate, efficient, and safe liquid handling in every experiment. Browse our product range at LabShop now!

FAQ

  • What is the function of a pipette?
    A pipette measures and transfers small volumes of liquid during an experiment. It assures accuracy and reproducibility.
  • What types of pipettes does LabPRO offer?
    At LabPRO, we provide a wide range of High Precision Micropipettes, Electronic Pipettes, Serological Pipettes, Pasteur Pipette, and the associated pipette tips to meet any lab application.
  • How do I choose the right pipette for my laboratory work?
    Consider your target volume, liquid type, your throughput, ergonomics, and possible consumable compatibility. For example, micropipets are suited for microliter volumes, while serological pipets are capable of managing volumes up to 1-100 mL. 
  • Are LabPRO pipettes compatible with standard tips and labware?
    Yes, LabPRO pipettes ensure compatibility with high-quality tips and commonly used tubes, plates, and vessels to allow for accurate and reproducible pipetting across a wide range of workflows.
  • Do you offer pipettes suitable for high-throughput applications?
    Yes, LabPRO offers a range of multichannel micropipets and electronic pipets that have been designed to expand throughput in workflows such as ELISA, PCR, or microplate handling by increasing speed, consistency, and ergonomics.