Pipette tips are useful items in any laboratory since they facilitate the measurement of samples in experiments and tests. However, the precision they provide is very easy to be lost if they are not preserved and manipulated correctly. This paper focuses on the right storage and handling of pipette tips to ensure they are well preserved, minimize contamination and ensure that the outcome of experiments in the scientific field is consistent. In this guide, you will discover how to store and handle tips when and why these procedures are important in the laboratory and some mistakes to avoid.
This is true because pipette tips are as accurate as the experiments being conducted and hence determine the reliability of the results. Negligence may lead to sample contamination, loss of sample, improper calibration or damage to the pipette tip. Thus, laboratories can maintain the samples and prevent the issues that may cause irreproducible experiments in experiments.
Key reasons why proper storage and handling matter:
Pipette tip should be packaged in a manner that will enable them to be used as they are supposed to be used. Whether tips are being used in a large-scale research laboratory or a small laboratory, they have to be stored in a way that preserves their sterility and durability.
Most pipette tips are packed in sterile packs so that they do not come into contact with bacteria before use. Once opened they have to be handled in such a way that they do not contract bacteria from other surfaces. Here’s how:
High humidity and moisture lead to bacterial growth while high temperatures lead to distortion of tips’ shape and their efficiency. Tips should be kept in a dry area and away from direct sunlight and heat or better still kept in a room with a temperature of not more than the room temperature. There is a requirement to keep the humidity scale which is important, especially in areas where the weather is changing and it is recommended that laboratories use desiccant in the storage space.
Storage in Cabinets or Drawers: The items that need to be put in order, should be put in cabinets or drawers. It eliminates confusion between the various tips that are used in the storage areas so that the appropriate tip is employed.
In the case of the tips that require sterilization, autoclaving is the most common method to apply. The tips must also be autoclavable to be able to withstand heat sterilization and the storage method used must maintain the sterility of the tips. For effective autoclaving, follow these steps;
However, it is not only how these tips are stored but how they are used during the day that determines the quality of the work done in a laboratory. Here are essential tips for handling pipette tips with care:
When placing a tip onto a pipette, one should not put a lot of pressure as this may result in cracking of the tip or wearing of the nozzle of the pipette. Most of today’s pipettes have a feature referred to as “soft touch” which makes it possible to seal a tip without a lot of pressure. Always ensure that you push the tip right to the end till you hear a click into place.
When transferring tips between samples, there is a possibility of vials getting contaminated hence affecting the results of experiments. This is especially the case when dealing with similar types of samples as residue from the previous sample may interfere with the next. It is recommended to make use of a new tip for each sample run especially in these accurate experiments.
Besides, even the gloves serve the purpose of protecting one from coming into contact with the chemicals and at the same time protecting the tips from any form of contamination. The presence of oils, sweat or any other contaminants on bare hands, no matter how small in quantity, affects the tips. For sterile work, properly sterilized gloves should be worn and the tip end which comes in contact with the sample should not be touched.
To reduce contamination with other samples, the tips should not be brought into contact with lab benches or any other surface before use. One should always select the tips from their racks and transfer them to the pipette without touching any surface that may have been contaminated.
When ejecting tips ensure you do it in a way that does not contaminate the working environment especially when dropping them in the proper disposal bin. Do not touch the used tip with your hands. Tip ejectors on pipettes are made in a manner that they eject tips without the need for touching the tips.
Storing and handling of the pipette tips are very crucial in ensuring the accuracy of the experiments without influencing the results by contamination. How tips and storage are done also adheres to the right procedures hence reducing the chances of sample contamination and the results obtained are accurate and repeatable. In general, it is required that one ensures that as far as handling and storage of tips are concerned, whether it is normal or special pipette tips, the right conditions must be met to improve the quality.
An autoclave can also be used to sterilize pipette tips to remove microorganisms that may be present on the tips. Make sure that the tip racks are autoclave safe and when using the tips, make sure you follow the instructions of the manufacturer on how to sterilize the tips and ensure that the tips are placed in a clean airtight container to maintain their sterility.
It is preferred that tips be stored in sterile packs or in closed pipette tip containers that are autoclavable. They should be kept in a dry, dust-free and ideal temperature condition of the hospital and should be stacked in a place where the patients cannot easily reach them.
Pipettes should be changed between samples to avoid sample contamination which is very important when working with sensitive samples, hazardous substances or samples that require accuracy.
