Reagent Reservoirs

Content
1. What are reagent reservoirs?
2. Types of reagent reservoirs
    2.1 Sizes of reagent reservoirs
    2.2 Sterile reagent reservoirs
    2.3 Autoclavable reagent reservoir
    2.4 Multichannel pipette reservoir
3. Application of reagent reservoirs
4. How to buy reagent reservoirs?

Reagent reservoirs, also known as reagent troughs or multichannel pipette trays, are mainly used for pipetting reagents. In pipetting operations, it is often necessary to repeatedly pipette the same liquid with multiple pipettes or reservoir pipette. In general, the mouths of laboratory vessels are narrow, so drawing samples in small amounts many times will increase the burden of experimental operations. A reagent reservoir could help to solve this problem and let pipetting operations become easier and more convenient than before.

According to the capacity, reagent reservoirs can be divided into small volume reagent reservoir (low volume reagent reservoir) and universal reagent reservoir.

Common capacities of reagent reservoir are listed below:

Sterile reservoirs are generally white grooves made of polystyrene. The grooves are available in 25 ml, 50 ml, and 100 ml capacities. The sterile reservoir can be used with single-channel pipettes or multi-channel pipettes. They are usually sterilized by gamma radiation and are available in individual bags or packs of two. There are disposable reagent reservoirs and reusable reagent reservoirs. Sterile disposable reagent reservoirs are designed to ensure sample safety.

Autoclavable reagent reservoirs are usually transparent grooves made of polyvinyl chloride. It can be used with a single-channel pipette or a reservoir multichannel pipette. Since they are not sterilized, they need to be sterilized before use. Reagent reservoir autoclavable allows its good heat resistance and antibacterial properties.

A reagent reservoir for multichannel pipettes makes pipetting easier and more convenient. Multichannel reagent reservoirs are usually white grooves made of polystyrene. The capacity of an 8 channel reservoir is approximately 7 ml, and the capacity of a 12 channel reservoir is approximately 5 ml.

In addition to the groove reservoirs, there are also cassette reservoirs. The volume of each reagent tank of the multichannel micropipette reservoir is 5 ml and each channel is marked with a number. The reagent reservoirs are also available on the reverse side and can hold 50 ml of liquid. These multi pipette reservoirs are usually made of medical polypropylene and are not sterilized. There are 5 colors for your option: red, blue, green, yellow, and natural.

A reagent reservoir, as one of the pipetting instructions in the laboratory, is usually required to be used with a pipette gun. Here are four ways to use pipettes.

a) Set the scale of the pipette or adjust the reading to the value of the amount of liquid to be quantitatively, and attach the appropriate tip.

b) Press the button to the stop position (with a noticeable blocking sensation) and hold it to squeeze out the air inside the suction tip to create a negative pressure inside the tip.

c) Dip the tip into the pipetting liquid at a depth of 2 to 3 mm below the liquid surface in the pipette reservoir. Then slowly release the button and let the liquid enter the tip under the action of atmospheric pressure. After inhaling the required amount of liquid, withdraw the pipette from the liquid surface and wipe off the liquid on the outside of the tip. Be careful not to touch the tip of the tip.

d) Continue to press and hold the button. Withdraw the pipette. Drop the tip into the specific vessel that is designed to hold the contaminated tip. Release the button to the start position. To continue aspirating, you should replace the tip as mentioned or hang the gun upright in the pipette holder.

a) Adjust the scale to the required degree. After attaching the pipette tip, you should press the button down to the second stop position.

b) Immerse the pipette tip at a depth of 2 to 3 mm below the liquid surface in the reagent reservoir. Then slowly release the button to draw in the liquid. After drawing, withdraw the tip from the liquid surface. Slant it against the wall of the reagent bottle to flow off excess liquid.

c) Gently depress the button to the stop position to release the liquid.

d) After pipetting, there is still a small amount of liquid (not included in the pipetting volume) that remains in the tip, which can be thrown away with the tip or put back into the original container.

1) If the pipetting volume is too large, there will be no extra space in the tip to accommodate the remaining liquid when pipetting by the backward method, so this method is often not suitable for pipetting large amounts of liquid.

2) When you need to pipette more than 4 ml of viscous or foamy liquid, you can use the forward pipetting method to absorb the liquid, and then slowly press the button to the stop position to slowly release the liquid. At this time, the liquid outside the pipette tip should be calculated into the whole pipetting volume.

a) Adjust the scale to the required degree. After attaching the pipette tip, you should press the button down to the second stop position.

b) Immerse the pipette tip at a depth of 2 to 3 mm below the liquid surface in the multichannel reservoir. Then slowly release the button to draw in the liquid. After drawing, withdraw the tip from the liquid surface. Slant it against the wall of the reagent bottle to flow off excess liquid.

c) Gently press the button to the stop position to release the liquid. After the liquid has been released, let the button stop at the stop position. Small amounts of liquid remaining in the tip should not be included in the pipette volume while the volume of the solution that has been dropped out should be included in the pipetting volume.

d) Immerse the pipette tip at a depth of 2 to 3 mm below the liquid surface in the multichannel pipette trough. Then slowly release the button to draw in the liquid.

e) By repeating steps c) and d), an equal volume of the same liquid can be pipetted repeatedly several times.

a) Use steps a) and b) of the forward pipetting method to fill the pipette tip with blood. Carefully wipe the blood off the tip with a piece of clean, dry, thin cotton paper.

b) Immerse the pipette tip below the liquid surface in the multi channel reservoir and press the button to the stop position, making sure that the tip is always below the liquid surface when operating.

c) Slowly release the button to return to the start position and allow the reagent to be gradually inhaled into the tip. Press the button again to the stop position and slowly release the button. Repeat this operation until all the liquid has been transferred to the solution. Care should be taken to keep the tip below the liquid level at all times.

d) Finally, press the button again to the second stop position to completely drain the liquid from the pipette tip.

a. Be slow and steady when operating the pipette.

b. The tip should be immersed in the liquid to the right depth, and the process of immersion should remain unchanged as much as possible.

c. Change the tip before changing to a different liquid, sample, or reagent.

d. Change the tip when residual liquid is found inside.

e. New pipette tips should be pre-tested before use.

f. To prevent liquids from entering the pipette sleeve, pay attention to the following points: 
a) Maintaining smoothness when pressing and releasing the button.
b) Pipettes must not be turned upside down. 
c) The pipette must not be placed flat when there is liquid in the pipette tip.
d) Always add a filter cartridge to the P5000 and P10ML pipettes.

g. Do not lubricate the piston, seal with grease, etc.

h. After using acids or solutions with corrosive vapors, it is best to remove the sleeve and clean the piston, and seals with distilled water.

i. The contaminant should be removed promptly when there is liquid in the piston.

j. When the pipette has been used, set the pipette range to the maximum value and place the pipette vertically in the pipette holder.

k. Depending on the frequency of use, all pipettes should be periodically cleaned with soapy water or disinfected with 60% isopropyl alcohol, then cleaned with double-distilled water and dried.

l. Avoid placing pipettes in a high-temperature place to prevent deformation and leakage or inaccuracy.

If you are interested in our reagent reservoirs or have any questions, please write an e-mail to [email protected], we will reply to you as soon as possible.