Pipette Tip Selection Guide: 5 Key Checks to Avoid Common Mistakes

Pipette Tip Selection Guide: 5 Key Checks to Avoid Common Mistakes

Pipette tips may look simple, but they play a critical role in ensuring accuracy, reproducibility, and efficiency in the lab. Choosing the wrong tip can lead to inaccurate results, sample contamination, and even costly do-overs.

In this guide, we'll cover 5 essential checks to help you choose the right pipette tips with confidence.

1. Check Compatibility with Your Pipette

The first and most important step: make sure the tip fits your pipette correctly.

If it doesn’t:

  • You may need excessive force to attach it, causing hand fatigue

  • It may leak or fail to form a proper seal

  • You risk compromising accuracy and consistency

✅ WATSON tips are compatible with a wide range of major pipette brands. Check our compatibility chart to be sure.

2. Match the Volume Range

Every tip is designed for a specific volume range. Be sure your pipette's setting falls within the recommended capacity for the tip.

Tip Type Recommended Volume Range
10 μL tips 0.1–10 μL
200 μL tips 2–200 μL
1000 μL tips 100–1000 μL

Mismatched tips can cause air bubbles, poor liquid handling, and inconsistent results.

3. Choose Filtered or Non-Filtered Tips

Depending on your application, select the appropriate type:

  • Filtered tips: Ideal for PCR, RNA work, or when contamination is a concern

  • Non-filtered tips: Cost-effective choice for everyday use (e.g., buffers, cell culture)

🔬 WATSON offers both types, with sterile and non-sterile options.

4. Sterile vs. Non-Sterile? Consider the Packaging Too

Choose the sterility and packaging format based on your workflow.

Type Best Use Cases
Sterile tips Cell culture, clinical work, contamination-sensitive experiments
Non-sterile tips Teaching labs, routine procedures, general liquid handling

WATSON provides individual packs, racks, and cost-saving bulk options.

5. Tip Shape & Special Features

  • Fine-point tips: Great for dispensing into narrow tubes or small wells

  • Low-retention tips: Prevent sample residue, especially important for viscous or valuable liquids

  • Material (e.g., polypropylene): Affects chemical resistance and flexibility

💡 For precious or low-volume samples, consider using low-retention tips to maximize recovery.

Why Choose WATSON Tips?

  • Precision-molded in Japan for excellent quality

  • Compatible with most leading pipette brands

  • Available in filtered, non-filtered, sterile, and bulk formats

➡ Explore All Pipette Tips

 

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