Choosing the Right Pipette Tip

There are various types of pipette tips, which are essential for accurate measurements. However, choosing the wrong pipette tip can lead to contamination of samples and reagents. In addition, improper tip fitting can cause repetitive stress injuries and joint damage. Fortunately, there are several options available, including a guide that shows which type of pipette tip to use for which purpose.

Filter pipette tips are a good choice for sensitive applications. This is because they protect sample and pipettes from contamination due to aerosols. Aerosols are the result of filter pipette tips  mechanical processes in laboratories and can pose a significant contamination risk. For this reason, filter pipette tips are a convenient solution. The tips can also protect samples from contamination during aspiration.

Filter pipette tips are made from high-quality, sterile polypropylene. They have been sterilized to 10-6 SAL (Sterility Assurance Level), which is equivalent to the sterility standard required in the medical device industry. This level of sterilization also ensures that there are no bioburdens, such as human DNA or DNAse.

General pipette tips are designed for everyday lab work, while filtered tips are better for sensitive applications. They prevent liquids from splashing inside the pipettes and aerosols from entering the tip cone. However, they are more expensive than non-barrier tips, so they should only be used when the sensitivity of the samples is important. However, they are a much more affordable option than purchasing a whole new pipette.

Choosing the right filter pipette tips is essential when performing PCR tests. The most sensitive PCR methods rely on the purity of the target DNA, and cross-contamination can lead to false positive identification. It's important to use a filter pipette for each test sample because one single drop of PCR product can contain thousands of DNA strands.

The quality of a filter pipette tip depends on several factors. One of these factors is the polypropylene blend. Virgin polypropylene tips are better than those made with metal additives. The polypropylene blends used in the production of high-quality tips will be free of metal and plastic additives. Also, check the tips' orifices.

A narrow orifice can damage delicate cellular samples. To avoid this, wide-bore tips are more ideal. This helps avoid cell shearing and minimises the amount of flow resistance. They also have a slender, flexible design that helps you touch-off your sample.