BISC209/F13: Use and Care of Micropipets

Use and Care of Micropipets

Pipet use and care: Pipetes are precision instruments—treat them carefully and gently! Ask if you have any questions.

Do not leave your pipetman in places on the bench where they could be knocked off

Set the volume before you put tips on the pipette

Make sure the tips are attached tightly before attempted to draw up fluid

Once tips are attached, do not let tip touch anything non-sterile

To draw liquid up push plunger down to first stop BEFORE you introduce tip to the liquid, then immerse tip into the liquid and slowly raise plunger with a slight pause before you lift the tip out of the liquid to ensure that the full and correct volume is drawn up into the tip.

Check the tip visually to make sure visually that it is at the expected level and there aren’t any air bubbles.

If using a multichannel pipet—make sure all tips are full and the liquid volume is even

Once filled with liquid, make sure you keep the pipette upright to prevent liquids from running back into the pipet shaft

To dispense, move tip to destination tube, push plunger down to first stop, pause, then fully depress the plunger to expel all the liquid; move tip out of liquid before releasing plunger.

Eject tip into a labeled biowaste bag if the tip is contaminated with microorganisms or into the waste basket or a disposal beaker on the bench top if the tip is not contaminated with microbes.

Practice using plain water until you are comfortable with all of these steps