Explore Different Types of Pipette Tips

Pipette tips are one of the most used and popular lab consumables which are widely used in laboratories all over the world to ensure correct handling of liquids. Whether for simple stirring or complex scientific experiments, the selection of the right type of pipette tip increases accuracy, minimizes contamination and optimizes workflow. In this article, we will discuss the types of pipette tips that are available in the market, their uses and why it is important to choose the correct type of tips for the success of the laboratory work. 

7 Common Types of Pipette Tips 

1. Standard Pipette Tips 

Non-filtered pipette tips which are also referred to as standard pipette tips are popular and are used for routine laboratory operations. These tips are ideal for low-risk operations such as transferring fluids, preparing samples and undertaking simple experiments. Standard tips are available in various sizes to suit all pipettes and several volumes. 

Advantages:  

•  Affordable and easily available. 
•  Suitable for general-purpose applications. 

Disadvantages: 

• Not suitable for use with small parts, chemicals or the transport of any perishable or sensitive goods. 
• More exposure to contamination as compared to the filtered tips. 

Application: 

Standard pipette tips are employed in molecular biology, and chemistry among other laboratory practices, where contamination is not a major issue.  

2. Filtered Pipette Tips 

Contaminated pipette tips are designed to have a small filter in the interior of the tips. These tips are mostly applied in the instances where sample purity is of paramount importance as in molecular biology, microbiology and genomic research. The filter serves as protection for the pipette from any form of contamination by aerosols and fluids, thus protecting the inside of the pipette.  

Advantages:  

• Prevents cross-contamination of samples. 
• The aerosol is protected from getting into the pipette. 
• Perfect for delicate uses such as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). 

Disadvantages:  

• Higher Costs than normal pipette tip.
• The filter may reduce the accuracy of transferring liquid by a small amount. 

Application: 

Filtered pipette tips are most commonly used in microbiology, genetics and any situation where contamination is a major concern.  

3. Low-Retention Pipette Tips 

These tips are coated with a hydrophobic layer which makes sure that almost all the liquid is transferred which is very important in experiments that involve the measurement of small volumes of reagents. 

Advantages: 

• Reduces sample loss especially for viscous liquids since part of the sample will be left in the container. 
• This makes the chances of spilling liquids, which may lead to great losses, very minimal. 
• Reduces reagent waste. 

Disadvantages: 

• A little higher in price in comparison with standard tips. 
• Not always required for routine lab work but it will be more useful when a particular case requires the test to be done repeatedly. 

Application:

These are usually used in proteomics, biochemistry and molecular biology where samples such as enzymes, antibodies or nucleic acids are used and it is very expensive to prepare them in large quantities.

4. Extended-Length Pipette Tips 

Deep well pipette tips are designed in a way that the stem of the pipette is longer to allow the user to retrieve liquid from deeper wells of tubes, bottles or any other vessels. These tips are especially helpful where ordinary length tips are not long enough to reach the bottom of the container. 

Advantages: 

• It enables one to transfer liquids from containers that are normally tall and narrow with a lot of ease. 
• Reduces the chance of contamination as during the stirring process the sample does not touch the sides of the container. 
• Reduces stress in certain situations. 

Disadvantages: 

• Less than the typical uses that are always given. 
• A little on the higher side in terms of price in comparison to the normal tips that one would find in the market. 

Application: 

Long-shanked tips are commonly employed in environmental sampling, forensic applications, and high throughput screening with deep well plates or large vials.  

5. Wide-Bore Pipette Tips 

Wide-bore pipette tips are pipette tips with a large diameter opening as compared to normal pipette tips; these are used in thick fluids or tissue culture where the pipette tips are to handle the cells and the organelles. The wider opening also has the effect of reducing the shear force acting on the samples while at the same time enhancing the transfer rate of the samples. 

Advantages: 

• Eliminates shear stress on samples which may easily be deformed or distorted while still maintaining the structural integrity of the sample. 
• It is most appropriate when working with highly viscous fluids or large size of particles in the fluids. 
• Minimizes sample damage. 

Disadvantages: 

• Somewhat less accurate for pipetting and other repetitive tasks with liquids and other similar operations. 
• It is most definitely not to be used for small-volume transfers. 

Application: 

Wide-bore tips are used where it is necessary not to disturb the cells or large particles for example in cell culture, tissue engineering and molecular biology.  

6. Robotic Pipette Tips 

Automated Liquid Handling Systems are equipped with their pipette tips known as the Robotic pipette tips. The following are very accurate tips that can help achieve high throughput experiments and are very accurate for the following experiments. Robotic tips are generally used once and are produced in a very clean environment and with a certain level of standardization. 

Advantages: 

• Delivers precision and reliability of the results produced by the automated functions. 
•  Clean or free from any form of contamination. 
•  Ideal for high-throughput applications. 

Disadvantages: 

•  It is relatively costly compared to most of the other manual pipette tips. 
•  Limited supply, and use.

Application: 

It is applied in drug discovery, clinic diagnostics, genomics and other fields where automation of large samples is highly required as a result of the use of robotic pipette tips. 

7. Sterile Pipette Tips 

Pipette tips are autoclaved and are packaged in packs to avoid the pipette being contaminated with bacteria, fungi or any other microorganisms. Such tips are quite useful in other procedures that require an aseptic manner and such include the following: Microbiology Tissue culture Clinical diagnosis 

Advantages:  

• Reduces contact of foodstuffs to bacteria and other microorganisms that may be dangerous to the human body. 
• Most suitable for use in aseptic conditions for instance laminar flow hoods. 
• At other times it comes in its ‘processed’ form for the extra precautionary measure. 

Disadvantages: 

• Comparatively expensive than normal pipettes.
• Should be used only in areas, not sterility-sensitive areas as it is highly sensitive to light. 

Application: 

It is essential to appreciate the fact that sterile pipette tips are mostly used in clinical laboratories, microbiology and cell culture where the cleanliness of the tips is paramount.  

How To Select The Right pipette tips for your laboratory and specific Use?

It is therefore important that one must be very careful in choosing the right pipette tip so that he can be able to manage the liquids effectively. Consider the following factors: 

• Application: There are various types of pipette tips and therefore, according to the task that is to be accomplished, the appropriate pipette tips must be used. For those applications in which the sample is used in a delicate process, filtered tips are preferred while for most lab applications, standard tips should be used. 
• Volume: Make sure that the pipette tip that you are using is correct for the volume you require to transfer. 
• Material Compatibility: however, should be noted that there are pipette tips that are meant for use on particular kinds of solutions such as viscous and evaporative solutions. 
• Precision and Accuracy: Filtered tips are best used for fine work, low-retention tips are best used for delicate work and standard tips are best for heavy work. 
• Contamination Control: When working with samples that are in any way delicate, it is advisable to employ either sterile or filtered tips if one is to avoid contaminating the sample. 

Conclusion 

Selecting the right pipette tip is among the most critical factors that determine the outcomes of any tests carried out in a laboratory. All these types of tips have their benefit and they have their use in a certain task for which they are most suitable. From biological samples, handling several samples at once, or using automated systems, the most suitable pipette tip improves accuracy and minimizes cross-contamination while making the work easier. 

FAQs 

Q1: What is the advantage of employing low-retention pipette tips? 

Low-retention pipette tips help to minimize sample loss due to low liquid adhesion to the outer surface of the pipette tip. They are especially useful when it comes to dealing with viscous fluids such as enzymes and proteins, to eliminate errors in pipetting liquids. 

Q2: When is it appropriate to use filtered pipette tips? 

Filtered pipette tips are useful in cases where contamination is a big issue for instance in molecular biology studies and genomic experiments. It helps to avoid contamination of the pipette and the sample, aerosols, as well as liquids. 

Q3: Do we need sterile pipette tips for every single experiment that we perform in the lab? 

No, sterile pipette tips are used only in those experiments which involve the use of bacteria, viruses, cells, tissues, etc., that is, in microbiology, tissue culture and clinical diagnosis. For the general application pipette tips that are not autoclave-certified are sufficient.