January 15, 2024 by Sophia Gonzalez
Pipettes and pipetting instruments are essential for ensuring the integrity and accuracy of data in most laboratories. How accurately and consistently a pipette can deliver a specified volume of liquid directly impacts key lab functions and the quality of the data it generates. However, common pipetting errors can devalue the quality of a laboratory's results. “The influence a pipette can have over the quality of results is quite astonishing. An uncalibrated pipette, or a technician with poor pipetting skills, can quickly undermine a lab’s ability to generate meaningful, reliable, and reproducible results. Additionally, it often requires considerable time and resources to identify the source of the issue and correct the problem.” LouAnn Evans, Director of Marketing, Pipette.com It’s clear that understanding common pipetting errors and knowing how to prevent them is crucial for laboratories. Let’s explore the top 5 common pipetting mistakes and get insight on how you can stop them from happening. Poor pipetting technique affects a lab’s ability to produce meaningful results in an efficient timeframe. Signs of poor pipetting techniques can include inconsistent results, poor calibration curve values, or unreproducible data. Advice to ensure your team exhibits good pipetting techniques in your laboratory includes: Ask the technician to weigh out the same volume of liquid using a pipette that is known to be calibrated and in good working order. Determine the error allowance based on the pipette’s error tolerance at the volume level being measured. If the technician cannot deliver consistent results, be sure to take appropriate measures to improve their accuracy and technique. To avoid having a laboratory full of technicians making pipetting errors, it’s crucial they have access to the right education and training. The more you can educate and assess your team on good pipetting practices, the less likely you’ll encounter some of the most common pipetting errors. When devising a pipetting education/assessment plan, be sure to include the following critical pieces of information: Every piston-operated dispensing device you use for generating results must be checked and calibrated on a regular basis. Over time, the mechanisms within a pipette can shift and result in a different volume of liquid to be dispensed than what was intended. To ensure the accuracy of your measurements, it’s important to only use calibrated pipettes that are known to be in good condition. Having your pipettes regularly calibrated, in accordance with their manufacturers’ recommendations will help ensure every test result your lab produces is valid and of sound integrity. Data created using samples prepared with an uncalibrated pipette could be subject to scrutiny – or even invalidated– if an auditor or client determines use of an uncalibrated pipette violates a standard or contractual obligation. To prevent using a pipette with an expired calibration certificate, track each pipette’s calibration and maintenance history and work with a calibration company that can help keep your equipment on track. 💡Pro-Tip: To ensure your team has the right pipette they need, when they need it, consider purchasing certified refurbished pipettes! When accuracy and precision are on the line, be sure to use the right pipette for your specific need and application. Failure to do so can result in introducing higher levels of error than necessary, making it harder to achieve consistent, precise results. Common examples of using the wrong pipette include: Choose exceptional, fast, and affordable calibration services from Pipette.com Calibration Services Pipettes often go between 6 - 12 months between calibrations – a lot can happen to a pipette in between calibration services if it’s not properly cared for and maintained. If regular maintenance isn’t applied, or the pipettes aren’t cared for properly, they can easily slide out of their specified precision and accuracy ranges, resulting in erroneous measurements. To help keep your pipettes accurate and in good condition, be sure to follow these maintenance practices: Keeping on top of your lab’s pipettes is crucial, but that doesn’t make it easy to manage. Let the calibration experts at Pipette.com help keep your pipette maintenance program easier to manage. We are a full service calibration company with years of experience calibrating, repairing, and certifying pipettes. We help thousands of clients each year keep their pipettes in top-condition and meet regulatory requirements such as FDA, ISO 8655, cGLP/cGMP, ISO 17025 and we can help you too. Learn more about our pipette calibration services on our website.Pipetting Error #1: Poor Pipetting Technique
How to Assess if a Technician Has Poor Pipetting Technique?
Pipetting Error #2: Inadequate Pipetting Education
Pipetting Error #3: Use of an Uncalibrated Pipette
Pipetting Error #4: Using The Wrong Pipette For Your Application
Get Peak Performance From Every Pipette!
Pipetting Error #5: Poor Pipette Maintenance Practices
Master Pipetting Maintenance with Pipette.com