Laboratory pipettes are small but specially-calibrated plastic tubes or transparent glass. They are used to hold a measured volume of liquid. It is also used to transfer the liquid from one container to another. Laboratory pipettes are also designed to deliver (TD) or to contain (TC) a certain amount of volume.
A laboratory pipette will be stamped as either TC or TD by manufacturers. Nowadays, there are at least five widely used grades of pipettes. All have specific requirements and instructions regarding their testing, maintenance, use, and measurement. The five different grades of pipettes are:
Repeat Pipette Dispenser
This type of laboratory pipette enables a user to set and dispense a certain volume of liquid into multiple receptacles. Repeat pipette dispensers also allow transferring into multiple receptacles without the need to aspirate between dispenses.
Transfer or Disposable Pipette
Disposable or transfer pipette is also known as beral pipette. This type of pipette is considered the most basic type among the pipettes. Compared to others, it is not as sophisticated. This piece of lab equipment is typically used for non-quantitative transfer of solutions or for rough measurements.
Serological or Graduated Pipette
The serological or graduated pipette is a macro pipette that consists of a long tube. It also comes with a series of graduations that will indicate the different calibrated volumes. Serological or graduated pipettes are usually used for quantitative transfers.
Single Channel Pipettes
Single channel pipettes are considered non-disposable instruments. They usually have an air displacement design that helps ensure accurate measurement results even if using only one disposable tip.
Multi Channel Pipettes
The technique and technology behind multi channel pipettes are the same as their single channel counterparts. One difference however is it takes more than one tip at a time.
Hettich is one of the premium manufacturers of incubators and centrifuges. They are also the makers of the HettlitePRO™ and HettJet™ series. Their pipettes come with unique features including durability, accuracy, and ergonomic design. What’s even better is they are affordable while providing efficiency and value to the research and laboratory markets.
