How to Pipette Properly: 8 Basic Techniques for More Consistent Results

September 8, 2026

Micropipettes are used every day in laboratories for PCR, DNA/RNA analysis, reagent preparation, sample dilution, and many other liquid handling tasks.

At first glance, pipetting may seem simple:

Set the volume, attach a pipette tip, aspirate the liquid, and dispense it into another container.

However, even when the same pipette, tip, and volume setting are used, differences in technique can affect the result.

For example:

Holding the pipette at an angle during aspiration
Immersing the tip too deeply
Releasing the plunger too quickly
Using a tip that does not fit correctly
Using a pipetting technique that does not match the liquid

These small differences can contribute to bubbles, residual liquid, or variation in aspiration and dispensing.

Reliable pipetting depends on more than the pipette itself.

Pipette + Tip + Technique + Liquid + Environment

All of these factors should be considered together.

In this article, we review the basic pipetting techniques that can help improve consistency during routine micropipette use.

1. Choose the Right Pipette for the Volume

Proper pipetting starts before the actual pipetting step.

Each micropipette has a specified operating volume range.

For example:

0.2–2 µL
2–20 µL
20–200 µL
100–1,000 µL

The appropriate range depends on the model.

Even if several pipettes can technically dispense the same volume, it is generally better to choose a pipette whose working range is well matched to the volume used most often.

You should also consider factors such as:

Single channel or multichannel
Fixed volume or variable volume
Manual or electronic
Air displacement or positive displacement

For viscous or volatile liquids, the pipetting mechanism itself may be just as important as the volume range.

Instead of asking only:

“How many microliters do I need to dispense?”

also ask:

“What am I dispensing, and how will I be dispensing it?”

2. Attach the Pipette Tip Correctly

After choosing the pipette, the next step is selecting and attaching the pipette tip.

A pipette tip is not simply a container for liquid.

The connection between the pipette and the tip must form an appropriate seal so that pressure changes inside the pipette can be transferred effectively to the liquid.

If the tip is not attached properly, or if the tip and pipette are not compatible, air leakage may occur.

This can contribute to problems such as:

Inconsistent aspiration
Liquid dripping from the tip
Variation even at the same volume setting

Insert the pipette straight into the tip and confirm that it is fitted securely.

At the same time, stronger insertion is not always better.

Using excessive or inconsistent force can make operation less standardized between users.

It is useful to think of the pipette and tip as one liquid handling system.

3. Keep the Pipette as Vertical as Possible During Aspiration

When aspirating liquid, keep the pipette as close to vertical as practical.

Holding the pipette at a large angle can change the conditions under which the liquid is aspirated and may affect dispensing performance.

This can become especially important at low volumes, where small differences in technique may represent a larger proportion of the total volume.

In real laboratory work, container shape or workspace limitations may make a perfectly vertical position difficult.

The important point is to keep the angle as consistent as possible from one operation to the next.

After aspiration, avoid pulling the tip rapidly out of the liquid.

Depending on the liquid, it may be useful to pause briefly before removing the tip.

Viscous liquids, in particular, may require more time to fully enter the tip.

4. Do Not Immerse the Tip Too Deeply

A pipette tip does not need to be inserted deeply into the liquid.

If the tip is immersed too far, liquid may adhere to the outside surface of the tip.

That liquid is not part of the set pipetting volume, but it may still be transferred to the receiving vessel and affect the actual amount moved.

On the other hand, if the tip is too close to the surface, the liquid level may fall below the tip opening during aspiration, causing air to enter.

Appropriate immersion depth depends on several factors, including:

Tip design
Dispensing volume
Container shape
Available liquid volume
Liquid properties

When aspirating a relatively large volume, the liquid level may fall noticeably, so the tip position may need to follow the liquid surface.

The goal is not to immerse the tip as deeply as possible.

The goal is to keep the tip opening stably below the liquid surface.

5. Operate the Plunger Smoothly and Consistently

With a manual pipette, plunger speed directly affects how quickly liquid enters the tip.

If the plunger is released suddenly, liquid may enter too quickly and contribute to:

Bubbles
Splashing
Surface disturbance
Inconsistent aspiration

These effects may be more noticeable during:

Low-volume pipetting
Viscous liquid handling
Foaming liquid handling

The goal is not simply to operate as slowly as possible.

Instead, use a controlled speed that is appropriate for the liquid and repeat the same motion as consistently as possible.

For viscous liquids, it may also help to pause briefly after aspiration before removing the tip from the liquid.

6. Pre-Wet the Tip When Appropriate

When a new pipette tip is first attached, the inside surface has not yet been exposed to the sample.

The conditions during the first aspiration may therefore differ slightly from later cycles.

Pre-wetting is one technique used to reduce this difference.

To pre-wet the tip, aspirate and dispense the same liquid before beginning the actual measurement.

This conditions the inside of the tip and can make the first true dispensing cycle more similar to subsequent cycles.

Pre-wetting may be worth considering for:

Low-volume pipetting
Volatile liquids
Applications requiring high reproducibility
Workflows where the first dispense tends to behave differently

However:

Pre-wetting is not mandatory for every pipetting procedure.

There is also no single fixed number of pre-wetting cycles that applies to every experiment.

The appropriate approach depends on the liquid, volume, pipette, protocol, and laboratory SOP.

7. Use Forward and Reverse Pipetting Appropriately

There is more than one way to pipette.

The most common method is forward pipetting.

In forward pipetting, the plunger is pressed to the first stop before aspiration. During dispensing, it is then pressed through to the second stop to expel the remaining liquid.

This technique is commonly used for water, buffers, and other low-viscosity liquids.

For more difficult samples, reverse pipetting may be useful.

Examples include:

Viscous liquids
Foaming liquids
Samples that tend to remain inside the tip
Samples that are difficult to dispense consistently using forward pipetting

In reverse pipetting, slightly more liquid than the set volume is aspirated, and a small residual volume remains in the tip after the target volume is dispensed.

The important point is:

Reverse pipetting is not automatically better or more advanced.

The best technique depends on the liquid.

For general aqueous solutions, forward pipetting is usually appropriate. For difficult samples, reverse pipetting may be worth considering.

8. Do Not Remove the Tip Too Quickly After Dispensing

After dispensing into the receiving tube or well, avoid immediately moving the pipette away.

Confirm that the liquid has been fully discharged from the tip.

This can be particularly important for viscous liquids, which may require more time to leave the tip completely.

Depending on the procedure, check for:

A large droplet remaining at the tip
Liquid still moving inside the tip
Bubbles in the receiving vessel

In some workflows, lightly touching the tip against the inside wall of the receiving vessel before withdrawal can help transfer a remaining droplet.

The final withdrawal motion should be treated as part of the pipetting technique, not as something separate from aspiration and dispensing.

9. Change the Tip When the Sample Changes

Because pipette tips are disposable consumables, a common question is:

“How many times can I use the same tip?”

A better question is:

“What has this tip touched?”

If a tip is used with Sample A and then inserted into Sample B, material from Sample A may be transferred into Sample B.

Even when repeatedly dispensing the same reagent, a tip that has contacted another sample or vessel contents should be evaluated before being returned to the reagent source.

Tip replacement is especially important in workflows such as:

PCR
DNA/RNA work
Cell culture
High-sensitivity assays
Procedures involving multiple samples

Using a filter tip does not remove the need to consider tip replacement.

A filter helps reduce the risk of aerosols or liquid entering the pipette body. It does not mean that the same tip can be used safely between different samples.

10. Check the Pipette and Tip, Not Just Your Technique

If results remain inconsistent even after reviewing your technique, the cause may lie elsewhere.

Possible factors include:

Poor tip fit
Worn internal seals
Calibration issues
A pipette that has been dropped
A large temperature difference between the liquid and the room
An unsuitable pipette volume range

This means:

Using the correct technique does not automatically guarantee the correct result.

Liquid handling depends on:

Pipette + Tip + Technique + Liquid + Environment

When variation occurs, it is often more useful to review each factor systematically than to assume that either the pipette or the operator is solely responsible.

Good Pipetting Is a Combination of Small, Consistent Actions

Proper pipetting is not defined by one special technique.

It comes from combining several basic practices:

Choose the right pipette.

Use a compatible tip.

Maintain a consistent angle.

Use an appropriate immersion depth.

Operate the plunger smoothly.

Select the right pipetting method for the liquid.

And replace the tip when the workflow requires it.

These small actions, repeated consistently, can help support more reliable liquid handling.

This is particularly important at low volumes, where small differences in technique can represent a relatively large proportion of the total volume.

If your results are inconsistent, consider reviewing:

Pipette range
Tip fit
Pipette angle
Immersion depth
Aspiration speed
Pre-wetting
Forward vs. reverse pipetting
Tip replacement
Liquid properties
Calibration and maintenance

Good pipetting is not one technique. It is a combination of the right pipette, the right tip, and consistent handling.

WATSON offers micropipettes and pipette tips for a variety of volume ranges and laboratory workflows.

When reviewing your liquid handling process, consider not only the pipette and tip individually, but also how they interact with the sample, technique, and everyday laboratory workflow.

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