Pipette tips come in a variety of specifications, such as filter tips and low retention tips, and there is so much to pick from that it is easy to become overwhelmed. It is critical to learn all of these distinct varieties and know which tips are appropriate for your pipette and situation.
If you’re unfamiliar with all of this and have no idea how to select a good pipette tip, we at Molecular Biology Products have put together this blog to assist you in understanding the fundamentals. By keeping these six things in mind, you will be able to select the appropriate pipette tip and avoid a lot of trouble and costly experimental errors.
Check Material
This is the most critical factor to consider when selecting a pipette tip. Make sure that the pipette tip you’re buying is high-quality virgin polypropylene. If the quality is poor, the efficiency of your pipetting will suffer as a result of poor retention and reduced precision. Keep in mind that sacrificing quality is never a good idea.
Beware Of Additives
The next thing to be careful about is metal, plastic, and additives, which are commonly found in blue and yellow tips. These additions can complicate an already difficult job by contaminating your sample. It’s not good to take any chances, especially when working with expensive chemicals, because contamination might cost you a lot of money. When selecting 20ul filter tips, ensure that the filter is composed of polyethylene and is devoid of additives such as cellulose.
Check Mold Quality
Pipette tips are made using an injection molding machine. The eventual shape and quality of the tip are determined by the design of the mold and the quality of the polypropylene injected into the mold. Low mold quality can result in tips that are weirdly proportioned and inaccurate. It is critical to ensure that the mold quality is high while purchasing.
Make Sure There Are No Contaminants
If your experiment is susceptible to contamination, such as microbiological testing, its care is essential, and there is no room for error. Even minor contamination of the sample will damage it, increasing your workload and wasting your sample. Therefore, it’s best only to buy tips free of RNase, DNase, DNA, Pyrogen, PCR Inhibitors, and ATP. Check if the tips you’re buying have been certified to be created following quality standards and are suitable for pipetting DNA amplification, radioactive materials, or other applications requiring critical sample handling.
Make Sure That They Are Compatible
Since not all pipette tips are compatible with every pipettor, compatibility is critical. Keeping this in mind, you should always ensure that the tip you buy fits your pipettors without requiring extra strain. In other words, it should fit easily and remain firmly in place without slipping. Most pipette tip manufacturers give a compatibility table to assist you in selecting a suitably fitting tip without getting confused. However, the majority of the tips are designed to operate with practically any well-known pipettor brand in the world.
You Can Try Low Retention
If your investigations include handling valuable samples or expensive reagents, or if precise handling is required, you must use low retention tips. As the name implies, these tips prevent sticky or viscous materials from adhering to the inner surface of the tip.
However, keep in mind that these are often regarded as premium tips and may cost you a little more than the standard ones. In fact, they are well worth the money. When purchasing low retention tips, the only thing to look for is that they did not go through a subsequent manufacturing procedure. Secondary processing, such as silicone coating, can result in chemicals seeping from the tip while in use.
Final Words
You will be able to attain precise and accurate results by combining your pipette and tip. Keeping these suggestions in mind will make it much easier to select an appropriate tip. If you’re looking for filter tips or conductive filter tips for Tecan, visit Molecular Biology Products.
