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A micropipette is a common yet essential laboratory instrument used to accurately and precisely transfer volumes of liquid in the microlitre range.
Micropipettes are available in single-channel and multi-channel variants. While the single-channel micropipettes are used in labs that perform research related to molecular biology, microbiology and immunology, the multichannel micropipettes are recommended for ELISA (diagnostic test), molecular screening, kinetic studies and DNA amplification.
Types of Micropipettes
Micropipettes can be classified depending upon:
1. Operating Mechanism
A. Mechanical Micropipette
These micropipettes are operated manually based on a piston-shaft spring mechanism.
B. Electronic Micropipette
An electronic micropipette is mostly automated. The aspirating and dispensing of liquid is performed by the one-touch buttons instead of manual plunger pressing and depressing.
2. Volume/ Capacity
A. Fixed Volume Micropipette
In a fixed volume micropipette, the volume of liquid to be aspirated or dispensed remains fixed. These micropipettes are used when the same volume of liquid is to be dispensed multiple times.
B. Variable Volume Micropipette
This micropipette comes with a specific minimum and maximum volume range. The volume of the liquid to be aspirated or dispensed can be adjusted (within the instrument’s volume range) depending upon the requirement of the user.
Figure 1: Parts of a Micropipette
Steps for Using a Micropipette
Figure 2: Steps for using a Micropipette
| Position 1 | In this, the micropipette is at rest position. | Press fit a tip to the micropipette without directly touching the tip. |
| Position 2 | In this, the plunger is depressed till the first stop. | To aspirate the liquid in the tip, press the plunger to the first stop. Immerse the pipette tip vertically in the liquid. |
| Release the plunger |
Slowly release the plunger while the tip is immersed. The liquid will be aspirated into the pipette tip. Liquid is filled in the tip as per preset micropipette volume. |
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| Position 3 | Depress the plunger |
To dispense the liquid, place the tip on the inner wall of the receiving vessel at a steep angle. Slowly press the plunger to the first stop to dispense the liquid. |
Resources
Assessment
| Question | Answer 1 | Answer 2 | Answer 3 | Answer 4 | Correct Answer | Correct Explanation | Page id | Part of Pre-Test | Part of Post-Test |
| Micropipettes are required in Mycobacteriology lab. | True | False | 1 | Micropipettes are used in LPA and BSL3 labs. | Yes | Yes |
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