The most used piece of laboratory equipment, in any laboratory setting, is the pipette. This useful and extremely important tool is used in nearly every area of scientific, medical, biotech, pharmaceutical, and chemistry laboratory around the world today. From the simple plastic transfer pipette to the ultra-precise automated pipetting system, laboratory pipettes have found an important niche in the scientific disciplines.
The transfer pipette is one of the most used pipettes in any scientific industry. These pipettes are manufactures in variable sizes, and can be graduated for rough measurement of liquids. They are usually made of polyurethane, and have a flexible plastic bulb for drawing up liquids. You can purchase sterile, individually wrapped pipettes for many uses.
Laboratory pipettes will always be in use in every laboratory where fast or precision measurement and delivery of fluids is needed. Even simple disposable transfer pipettes are being graduated, for precise transfer of fluids, and for quick measurement of analytes and reagents. This is effective for the fast-moving laboratory, and can be useful for STAT procedures as well. Transfer pipette come in many volumes, from 1 ml up to 20 ml transfer syringes. Purchases of large amounts of these pipettes lend convenience to the large volume laboratory.
Graduated glass pipettes are needed for the precision pipetting of fluids for reagent setup or culture mixing. These precision pipettes can be vacuum assisted to eliminate mouth aspiration. Glass graduated pipettes can be sterilized via autoclave, without concern for variations in volume due to high temperatures, by the use of high-annealed glass products such as Pyrex. Plastic graduated pipettes are a one-time use solution for the laboratory on the go. These useful pipettes can be used once and disposed of; creating an environment that reduces cross-contamination of specific cultures or reagents.
Precision pipette systems have been used for decades, but now the precise nature of pipette systems today are computer chip controlled, lending to a much more reliable method of fluid transfer. These newer systems give such precision that most biotech and pharmaceutical disciplines need them. Disposable plastic pipette tips are used in conjunction of handheld pipetting devices that utilize a piston-type aspiration and delivery system. There are also autopipette systems that use diaphragmatic aspiration and delivery via computer control, giving the digital age a foothold on the market.
Bench top pipette systems for the precision delivery of reagents and chemicals into test tubes or cuvettes are in use at a high level, as they give convenience for the laboratory personnel. This method can be used for large volumes of chemicals that get large usage during shifts, and most of these pipetting systems can be easily refilled. Other pipetting systems are available for large volumes, such as those needed for mass chemistry analysis procedures.
Robotic pipette systems are used by many biotech laboratories for the automation of many processes that would otherwise take up personnel time. This increases productivity, and can result in mass testing procedures. These automated robotic systems can be set up on conveyor systems for easier delivery of chemicals and fluids.
The pipette systems of the future will not need much improvement, since the pipettes used today satisfy the world's laboratories needs.
