Many of our decisions are influenced by internal and external factors and the same is the case when it comes to choosing the right pipette tip. There are multiple factors to consider so that you can rightfully carry out your workflow with accurate results. This decision is not at all based on your whims, but on relevant factors, such as the type of application and type of liquid you are pipetting.
So, how do you know which pipette tip is the right one for you? Here, we will tell you all about the different kinds of pipette tips and which one is the best for you. (Harkins)
1. Non-Sterile Vs. Sterile
It’s basic knowledge that sterile tips should be used for workflows where sterility is of the utmost importance. However, you save money by buying non-sterile tips and autoclaving them yourself. You just need to make sure that the manufacturer claims them to be autoclavable. In addition, be aware of the following:
● Lack Of Quality Control
Tip manufacturers confirm their sterilization process and conduct quality inspections on a regular basis. Individual laboratories, on the other hand, rarely assess the effectiveness of their autoclaving technique, which can result in compromised samples.
● Autoclaved Tips Aren’t Free Of RNase And DNase
Tips that have been autoclaved are sterile, which implies they are free of any living organisms but not necessarily of RNase and DNase. If you need to run sensitive assays that require tips to be free of RNase and DNase, use sterile tips from a manufacturer that can certify that.
2. Filter Tips
Aerosols are generated within the pipette tip each time you aspirate liquid. Even if you replace tips in between, these aerosols might contaminate your pipette and, as a result, your samples if you don't use filter tips.
For example, cross-contamination of samples by aerosols in the pipette might result in false-positive findings when performing PCR tests. This is because even the tiniest amounts of DNA from a prior sample could be amplified. So, filter tips are extremely crucial when working with liquids that have the potential of compromising the pipette, such as radio-labeled or corrosive samples.
Lastly, filter recommendations can be beneficial in the training of new lab personnel. Spending a little more money on filter tips until your colleagues become used to your equipment is a fantastic idea that typically pays off because you can prevent pipette contamination or damage from liquid penetrating the pipette's bottom end.
3. Long Tips
Have you ever put the tip of your pipette into a tube to allow a standard tip to hit the bottom and risk cross-contamination? If so, many manufacturers have given us solutions to eliminate this risk. They have introduced extended-length pipette tips that are ideal for labware like microcentrifuge tubes or deep-well blocks.
4. Short Tips
Short tips have two benefits. First, they allow for the hand pipetting of tiny wells into a 384 or 1536 well plate using a multichannel pipette. Second, they provide better ergonomics by enabling you to pipette nearer to the bench, which reduces arm strain.
5. Low Retention Tips
Low retention tips, as the name implies, retain less liquid, resulting in more precise and consistent findings while conserving reagents. However, they are more expensive than ordinary tips, so one should only use them when absolutely necessary. In a series of tests, our in-house application scientist revealed that both ordinary and low retention tips give optimal liquid return when pipetting water, but provide drastically different outcomes when pipetting viscous or low surface tension solutions
Therefore, they are ideal for when you are pipetting highly vicious and concentrated samples while:
● PCR, sequencing, cloning, or other RNA and DNA applications
● SDS-PAGE, protein purification, or other protein analysis applications
6. Wild Bore Tips
When fragile cellular samples are forced through the small orifice of conventional tips, they are often damaged. As a result, when transferring biological samples, like fragile cell lines, or other fluid materials, wide diameter tips should be used. The larger aperture of these tips minimizes flow resistance and prevents (cell) shearing.
So, if you are looking to purchase quality tips, check out our collection at Molecular Biology Products. We have everything from Non-Filter Tips to PCR plates from some of the best manufacturers out there. So, get in touch with us now and equip your lab with the best instruments.
Work Cited
Harkins, Jonathan. “The different types of pipette tips (and when to use them).” Integra Biosciences, 2 April 2021, https://www.integra-biosciences.com/global/en/blog/article/different-types-pipette-tips-and-when-use-them. Accessed 10 January 2022.
