Walk into any laboratory, and one of the first tools you will notice is a pipette.
It is used every day, often without much thought.
Yet, understanding how pipettes work—and how to choose the right one—can make a significant difference in experimental accuracy and reproducibility.
This article explains the basics of pipettes, their main types, and how to select the right model for your workflow, whether you are new to the lab or already experienced.
1. What Does a Pipette Do?
Pipettes allow precise liquid handling at microliter (µL) volumes that cannot be achieved by hand.
Accurate pipetting directly affects experimental reliability and data quality.
2. Main Types of Pipettes
① Air Displacement Pipettes
The most common type, using an air cushion to aspirate and dispense liquids.
Ideal for routine laboratory applications such as PCR, reagent preparation, and serial dilution.
② Positive Displacement Pipettes
Use a direct piston-to-liquid contact.
Suitable for viscous, volatile, or hazardous samples where air displacement pipettes may introduce errors.
3. Manual vs. Electronic Pipettes
Manual Pipettes
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Lightweight
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No power required
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Easy to maintain
Widely used in daily laboratory work.
Electronic Pipettes
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Reduce repetitive strain
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Ideal for high-throughput workflows
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Enable programmable dispensing
4. Choosing the Right Volume Range
Selecting a pipette with the appropriate volume range is critical.
| Volume Range | Typical Use |
|---|---|
| 0.1–2 µL | PCR, trace samples |
| 2–20 µL | Molecular biology |
| 20–200 µL | General pipetting |
| 100–1000 µL | Large-volume dispensing |
For best accuracy, operate pipettes within the middle of their specified range.
5. Basic Pipetting Techniques
Good pipetting practices include:
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Securely attaching tips
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Slow and steady aspiration
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Vertical operation
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Using fresh tips for each sample
These habits help maintain consistency and accuracy.
6. Pipettes and Tips Work as a System
A high-quality pipette alone is not enough.
Tip quality and fit play a critical role in performance.
Precision-molded tips improve:
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Dispensing accuracy
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Reduced residual liquid
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Workflow efficiency
7. Conclusion
Pipettes may not be the most eye-catching instruments in the laboratory,
but they quietly support almost every experiment performed at the bench.
By understanding the differences between pipette types and using them appropriately,
researchers can reduce errors and improve consistency in daily work.
A pipette is not just a tool to get used to—it is a tool that rewards understanding.
We hope this guide helps you achieve more reliable and stress-free pipetting.