The pipette is a common lab instrument which draws in liquids by creating a vacuum. It is mostly used in healthcare and industrial facilities as well as in science labs to accurately measure and transfer liquids in an environment that demands exactness and reliability. That is why pipette calibration, whether its a lab or a classroom, should be done at regular intervals.
Calibrating your pipettes How often should you do this?
This depends on a number of factors. Air displacement pipettes undergo a great deal of wear and tear, particularly between the piston and the seal. Instruments that are used on a daily basis for assays or QA require servicing every 3-6 months. Pipettes that are routinely used for benchwork require calibration services only once or twice a year.
Calibrating your pipettes How do you know its time?
Again, it all depends on the usage. But as a rule of thumb, if your pipette hasn't been serviced in the last 6 - 12 months, its about time you did it. You may require the immediate services of a calibration professional if there are obvious signs of wear and tear tips that dont stay put or leaking, for instance. In this case, your instrument has probably been malfunctioning since months.
Pipette calibration Can you run a quick check?
Running an in-house verification of pipette performance is a good idea provided there is a micro-analytical balance in current calibration which has a minimum of 5 decimal places. You will, of course, need to work according to scientific procedure established for pipette calculations that involve mass to volume conversions for pure water.
Calibrating your pipettes How to do it by yourself
Clean the beaker and pipette and make sure they are completely dry. Any remains or residue from previous use is likely to give you the wrong measurements.
Put some distilled water in an Erlenmeyer flask and keep it that way for 15 minutes.
Measure the temperature of the water in the flask at the end of this period.
Use a balance to measure the beakers mass to the nearest tenth of a milligram.
Pour the flask water into the pipette with a pipette filler and deposit it into the beaker.
Record the beakers weight again and note any difference from the earlier measurement.
Repeat the procedure thrice.
Calculate the mean of the four measurements you have done.
Add 1.06 mg per gram to the mean mass. Ignore this step if you use a digital scale.
Determine water density at the earlier measured temperature.
Use the formula - Volume = mass / density - to calculate the mean volume of water discharged by the pipette.
Compare the measurements and calculations to other pipette calibration results.
This process will determine how precise your pipette and whether it requires professional calibration services.
Calibrating your pipettes How often should you do this?
This depends on a number of factors. Air displacement pipettes undergo a great deal of wear and tear, particularly between the piston and the seal. Instruments that are used on a daily basis for assays or QA require servicing every 3-6 months. Pipettes that are routinely used for benchwork require calibration services only once or twice a year.
Calibrating your pipettes How do you know its time?
Again, it all depends on the usage. But as a rule of thumb, if your pipette hasn't been serviced in the last 6 - 12 months, its about time you did it. You may require the immediate services of a calibration professional if there are obvious signs of wear and tear tips that dont stay put or leaking, for instance. In this case, your instrument has probably been malfunctioning since months.
Pipette calibration Can you run a quick check?
Running an in-house verification of pipette performance is a good idea provided there is a micro-analytical balance in current calibration which has a minimum of 5 decimal places. You will, of course, need to work according to scientific procedure established for pipette calculations that involve mass to volume conversions for pure water.
Calibrating your pipettes How to do it by yourself
Clean the beaker and pipette and make sure they are completely dry. Any remains or residue from previous use is likely to give you the wrong measurements.
Put some distilled water in an Erlenmeyer flask and keep it that way for 15 minutes.
Measure the temperature of the water in the flask at the end of this period.
Use a balance to measure the beakers mass to the nearest tenth of a milligram.
Pour the flask water into the pipette with a pipette filler and deposit it into the beaker.
Record the beakers weight again and note any difference from the earlier measurement.
Repeat the procedure thrice.
Calculate the mean of the four measurements you have done.
Add 1.06 mg per gram to the mean mass. Ignore this step if you use a digital scale.
Determine water density at the earlier measured temperature.
Use the formula - Volume = mass / density - to calculate the mean volume of water discharged by the pipette.
Compare the measurements and calculations to other pipette calibration results.
This process will determine how precise your pipette and whether it requires professional calibration services.
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