The Quick and Easy Guide to Pipette Tips

Types of Pipette Tips

1. Standard Pipette Tips
   • Description: Basic tips made from polypropylene, typically used for routine liquid handling.
   • Applications: General-purpose tasks such as buffer preparation, reagent transfer, and simple dilutions.
   • Key Considerations: Ideal for non-critical applications where contamination or extreme precision isn’t a concern.
2. Filter Tips
   • Description: Equipped with a hydrophobic filter that prevents aerosols and liquids from entering the pipette barrel.
   • Applications: PCR, cell culture, and working with hazardous or infectious samples.
   • Key Considerations: A must-have for preventing cross-contamination, particularly in molecular biology workflows.
3. Low-Retention Tips
   • Description: Made from specialty plastic with hydrophobic properties to reduce liquid adherence.
   • Applications: Handling viscous liquids (e.g., glycerol, detergents) or low-volume samples in enzymatic assays.
   • Key Considerations: Improves precision and ensures complete sample transfer.
4. Extended-Length Tips
   • Description: Longer tips designed for accessing deep wells or tall tubes.
   • Applications: Working with 96- or 384-well plates, or reaching the bottom of long centrifuge tubes.
   • Key Considerations: Prevents cross-contamination when working in multi-well plates.
5. Wide-Bore Tips
   • Description: Tips with a larger orifice to minimize shear forces on sensitive samples.
   • Applications: Pipetting fragile cells, beads, or viscous solutions.
   • Key Considerations: Reduces sample damage in applications like cell culture or protein crystallization.
6. Sterile and RNase/DNase-Free Tips
   • Description: Pre-sterilized and certified to be free of nucleases and other contaminants.
   • Applications: RNA/DNA extraction, qPCR, and other applications sensitive to nucleic acid contamination.
   • Key Considerations: Essential for genomic and proteomic workflows.

Choosing the Right Tip for Your Application

Molecular Biology

For PCR, RNA extraction, or DNA quantification, filter tips and RNase/DNase-free tips are non-negotiable. These prevent contamination that could jeopardize sensitive experiments. Low-retention tips are also recommended for maximizing sample recovery.

Protein Chemistry

When handling viscous reagents like buffers or reducing agents, opt for low-retention tips to minimize loss. Wide-bore tips are beneficial when transferring protein crystals or aggregates.

High-Throughput Screening

For automation-friendly workflows in microplates, use extended-length tips to avoid cross-contamination. If working with liquid handlers, ensure compatibility between the tips and the robotic system.

Cell Biology

Wide-bore tips are ideal for transferring cells, beads, or delicate organoids to minimize damage. For sterile conditions, always choose pre-sterilized tips to prevent contamination.

General Laboratory Work

Standard pipette tips are sufficient for most routine tasks. Keep in mind that colored tips, often used for easy identification of volume ranges, can streamline operations in multi-user labs.

Best Practices for Pipette Tip Selection and Use

1. Volume Matching: Always match the pipette tip to the pipette’s intended volume range for optimal accuracy.
2. Certified Compatibility: Use tips certified by the pipette manufacturer to avoid improper fit or leakage.
3. Environmental Considerations: Choose recyclable or biodegradable tips where possible to minimize plastic waste.
4. Storage: Store tips in a clean, dry place to avoid contamination before use.
5. Calibration: Regularly calibrate pipettes to ensure accurate liquid transfer, regardless of the tip type.

Need help choosing, or do you have any questions? Reach out to us at clientservices@maxisci.com or to your Concierge and we'll be more than happy to help you!