Microbiology: 6 Tips to Choose the Best Micropipette

The micropipette is to microbiologists what a paintbrush is to painters!

That’s why taking the time to choose the right micropipettes is essential (or you might end up with a disaster).

To help you with this tough decision, we’ve surveyed numerous micropipette users — from suppliers to microbiology labs.

Here are the key criteria to consider when choosing your “perfect micropipette.”

Table of Contents:

1. Define your requirements
2. Test to perform before you buy
3. Micropipette Accuracy
4. Micropipette Comfort
5. Micropipette maintenance
6. Pipette and tip compatibility

1 – Define Your Requirements for Micropipettes

Before reaching out to suppliers, take a few minutes to create a clear list of your needs.

Start by answering these two key questions:

What volumes do you need to pipette?

Make a list of the volumes you work with and how often you use them daily.

Examples:

• 1000 µL → 200 times per day
  
• 100 µL → 2 times per day

What types of liquids do you pipette?

Are they aqueous, foamy, homogeneous, or contain “bits and pieces”?

Don’t forget to factor in the temperature of the liquids—especially if it’s far from room temperature, as this can affect performance.

These details will help suppliers guide you toward the right micropipette from their catalog. And if they don’t ask you these two questions… well, that’s a red flag!

If you’re leaning toward a manual air-cushion micropipette, then the rest of this article is definitely for you!

2 – Try Before You Buy your Micropipette 

Ask the supplier to lend you the micropipette for 1–2 weeks and test it under your routine conditions.

This is hands down the best advice you’ll find in this article!

Don’t hesitate to compare different models. And if the supplier refuses to let you test it… it’s probably best to move on!

We could stop the article here, but let’s dig a little deeper…

3 – Micropipette Accuracy

A micropipette is, above all, a measuring device designed to transfer precise and repeatable volumes.

That’s why it’s crucial to verify its accuracy.

Pipette “tips” : During the trial period, ask your metrologist to check the accuracy of the micropipette. This step can save you from future headaches!

4 – Micropipette Comfort

To prevent repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), it’s essential to consider the ergonomics of the micropipette.

The tests you conduct in the lab will help you determine if the movements feel natural or forced.

Here are a few things to keep an eye on:

A Smooth Plunger

The plunger should be as smooth as possible, requiring minimal effort to press.

However, the stop points should still feel clear and precise, giving you confidence with every pipette motion.

Plunger Travel Distance

When it comes to plunger travel distance, manufacturers of Piston-Operated Volumetric Devices (POVD) follow two different strategies:

1 – A fixed travel distance, identical for all volumes.

The plunger always returns to the same position, whether the pipette is set to 100 µL or 1000 µL. This ensures consistency in the movement.

Advantage: Your brain gets used to a motion that remains identical regardless of the volume, making it easier to work efficiently.

2 – A plunger travel distance proportional to the volume.

At the nominal volume (maximum volume), the plunger travel distance will be the longest. The smaller the volume, the shorter the travel.

Advantage: This makes it easier to notice if you’ve made a mistake in the volume setting.

Example: On a P1000, if the plunger travel feels short when you’re aiming for 1000 µL, it’s a clear sign there’s an issue with the setting.

The Weight and Balance of the Micropipette

When you’re doing hundreds of pipetting tasks a day, weight becomes a weighty factor (sorry, couldn’t resist) in choosing your micropipette.

But here’s the thing: even more important than weight is how the pipette is balanced in your hand. It’s all about… the center of gravity (or barycenter… we haven’t used that word since geometry class in 8th grade!).

The center of gravity should be as close to your hand as possible—not above it or below it.

We’ve tested lightweight pipettes that were poorly balanced and didn’t sit well in the hand… a total nightmare.

On the other hand, a heavier but well-balanced micropipette can actually feel more comfortable and natural to use.

So, don’t choose your micropipette from a catalog—you need to try it out!

Micropipette Size

Did you know that micropipettes come in different lengths? (Yeah, we didn’t either at first.)

This is an important factor to consider, especially if you’re working under a biosafety cabinet (BSC).

Why? The longer the pipette, the higher you’ll need to raise your arms during use—particularly when handling tubes.

This can increase the risk of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) and make the process more awkward due to the BSC’s glass shield.

Don’t forget: aspiration must be performed perpendicular to the liquid surface for accurate results!

Are the Tips Easy to Connect to the Pipette?

You shouldn’t have to force the tips onto the pipette.

Pro tip: you don’t hammer tips on like a nail—you gently twist them on, like a screw, using a rotating motion.

Pipette “tips” : Make sure the tips fit easily and securely, and double-check that there are no leaks.

Are the Tips Easy to Eject?

Once you’re done with the tip, it’s time to eject it.

But even this simple motion can be hard on microbiologists, especially when done repeatedly. That’s why the ease of the ejector mechanism is so important.

The effort required to eject a tip can vary depending on the brand of tips used (ejection is often easiest with tips from the same brand as the micropipette).

Pipette “tips”: Does your thumb need to make an awkward or unnatural motion to eject the tip? Do you have to apply too much force?

Adjusting and Locking the Micropipette Volume

There are several ways to adjust the volume on a micropipette—by turning the plunger or using adjustment wheels on the pipette body.

This feature becomes especially important if you need to frequently change volumes during your work.

Pipette “tips”: Is the adjustment easy and quick?

Another crucial factor is the volume locking mechanism. Some labs have abandoned variable-volume micropipettes altogether because their technicians accidentally changed volumes without realizing it.

There are three types of locking mechanisms:

• No Locking: No security at all—volume adjustments can happen unintentionally.
  
• “Brake” Locking: The tighter the brake, the harder it is to adjust the volume.
  
• ON-OFF Locking: When ON, you can change the volume; when OFF, adjustments are completely locked.

Pipette “tips”: Test the locking system. Does it feel reliable and secure to you?

Volume Visibility on the Micropipette

Depending on the micropipette, the volume indicator can be placed in different locations.

It’s always better to have the volume indicator clearly visible so you can easily check the dispensed volume at a glance.

Pipette “tips”: Is the volume clearly visible while holding and using the pipette? Is it easy to read?

Is the Pipette Ambidextrous?

Left-handed users are increasingly considered in microbiology labs (which is good!), but some designs still miss the mark.

Pipette “tips”: Check if the pipette is comfortable for left-handed users—even if you don’t have any in your lab (you never know what the future holds!).

Also, make sure the volume display is easy to read for left-handed users.

5 – Maintenance and Calibration of the Micropipette

Cleaning the Micropipette

One of the worst things that can happen is contamination inside your micropipette (using filter tips can help prevent this).

If it does occur, cleaning and disinfecting the pipette is a must.

The easiest solution? Autoclaving.

Pipette “tips”: Is the micropipette autoclavable? Ideally, it should be sterilizable without needing to disassemble it.

Basic Maintenance of the Micropipette

Micropipettes have wear-and-tear parts, such as seals, that may need replacing over time. Check if these components are easy to access and replace.

It’s always better if disassembling the pipette doesn’t leave you holding 50 tiny pieces… because, let’s be honest, no one wants to deal with that chaos!

Pipette “tips”: Is the micropipette easy to disassemble? Can you take it apart without tools? (Tool-free is always better… because, let’s face it, that special tool has a way of disappearing when you need it most!)

Réparation of the Micropipette

A micropipette is like a car—sooner or later, it’ll need a trip to the pipette mechanic. When that time comes, you’ll want the repair to be as quick as possible.

Pipette “tips”: Ask your provider if they can easily and quickly access spare parts. While you’re at it, don’t hesitate to ask their opinion on the durability and robustness of the micropipette.

Trust in Your Micropipette Supplier

There’s one final factor that applies to all technologies: the trust you have in your supplier!

While this might seem subjective, it’s actually based on concrete criteria like:

• Ease of contact: When you call, do you reach a real person or just a voicemail system?
  
• Past experience: Have you worked with this supplier before? If not, gather feedback from other labs (check LinkedIn or consult the SuperMicrobiologistes community).
  
• Responsiveness: How quickly do they provide solutions if a problem arises?

The Warranty

The legal minimum warranty period is 2 years, but some micropipette manufacturers may offer a bit more… which is always a good sign!

Note: Wear-and-tear parts (like seals) are typically not covered under the warranty. Keep this in mind when making your choice!

6 – The Pipette & Tip Combo

Using an excellent micropipette with low-quality tips won’t give you great results—and the same goes the other way around.

When it comes to tips, there are two main scenarios:

• “Closed” Pipettes: Only compatible with tips from the same brand.
  
• “Open” Pipettes: Compatible with tips from various brands (or at least most of them!).

Both options have their pros and cons… but that’s a topic for another article!

However, even with open systems, manufacturers often recommend using their own brand of tips. There are at least two reasons for this:

• Financial: Let’s be honest—it’s good for their business.
  
• Technical: The supplier’s tips are designed to perfectly match the characteristics of their micropipettes. You’ll almost always get the best results with those tips.

It’s like trying on two shirts: one custom-tailored and one off-the-rack. Both might fit, but the custom shirt will always fit just right!

Conclusion: Choosing Your Micropipettes

In conclusion, finding the perfect micropipette for your microbiology lab requires careful thought and consideration.

Start by defining your specific needs with a detailed checklist, test the micropipette in real-world conditions, and evaluate key factors such as precision, comfort, durability, and tip compatibility.

Finally, don’t overlook the importance of trust in your supplier, their responsiveness, and the warranty they provide. A reliable partnership is just as essential as the pipette itself!

Come share your micropipette experience with us in the comments!