It is important to point out that laboratory work is a very delicate process and the samples’ purity and accuracy should be beyond any doubt. Filter pipette tip is one of the often unnoticed but very crucial factors that play a part in this accuracy. Filter pipette tips are essentially produced to meet specific difficulties in pipetting by using a filter incorporated in the tip which helps in avoiding sample contamination. In this article, we will discuss why filtered tips are used, what advantages they offer, for which purposes they are employed, and how they improve the work of laboratories.
Filter pipette tips are the same as general tips in terms of their use but they carry an added bonus: a filter. This filter is most often formed from a hydrophobic substance such as polyethylene or a polymer of similar characteristics and is situated within the tip’s casing. Its main function is to serve as a protection to the liquid being pipetted and the pipette mechanism.
Types of Filters
Filters within pipette tips can also be distinguished by the material of which they are made and the pore size. Common types include:
Hydrophobic Filters: These do not allow liquids to pass through but allow air to pass through thus protecting the pipette from liquid aerosols.
Hydrophilic Filters: These filters are used when working with aqueous solutions and are designed to absorb moisture and thus prevent cross-contamination.
Why Use Filter Pipette Tips?
Preventing Contamination
One of the most significant reasons for using filtered tips is to prevent contamination:
Protecting the Pipette: The Filter serves as a shield that helps to protect the pipette’s inner parts from liquids that are volatile or corrosive.
Avoiding Cross-Contamination: Filter tips are useful to prevent contamination of samples by touching them with other samples especially where the liquid is likely to be sprayed into the air. This is important, especially in experiments where the samples are biological such as DNA samples or cell cultures.
Enhancing Accuracy and Precision
Volumes of liquids must be measured accurately to obtain accurate results. Filter pipettes contribute to this by:
Preventing Aerosol Contamination: The filter captures the aerosols and it makes sure that the sample pipetted does not have particles that may have been left behind by the previous sample.
Maintaining Sample Integrity: Filter tips are particularly important in that they isolate the sample from the internal working of the pipette so that the right volume is delivered and the sample is not contaminated in any way.
Increasing Pipette Longevity
Contaminants that make it to the internal parts of a pipette will only degrade or damage the pipette over time. Filter tip can extend the life of the pipette by:
Minimizing Maintenance Needs: Since the filter keeps the liquid away from getting into the pipette, there is a low frequency of internal cleaning and maintenance.
Protecting Against Corrosive Substances: In cases where the liquid is corrosive, the filters serve as a shield to the pipette to avoid being affected by the corrosive liquid.
Molecular Biology
In molecular biology, filter pipette tips are essential for:
PCR and RT-PCR: While performing PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), filter tips ensure that unwanted substances that may interfere with the reaction or give wrong results are not introduced into the system.
Genetic Sequencing: DNA samples have to be protected from contamination and filter tips assist in this process thus preventing contamination.
Microbiology
Filter tips are used in microbiology to:
Prevent Cross-Contamination: In microbiological assays where accuracy is paramount filter tips reduce the risk of cross-contamination between samples.
Protect Cultures: Filter tips are used when dealing with cultures, especially in conditions that are open to the environment since they prevent contamination of the samples.
Clinical and Diagnostic Testing
In clinical settings, filter tips are used to:
Prevent Sample Cross-Contamination: Filter tips are important because they minimize the chances of contamination by aerosols and residual liquids which are vital in accurate diagnostic results from the samples.
Handle Sensitive Reagents: Diagnostic reagents are usually sensitive and often get contaminated, and filter tips are critical in preserving the reagents’ effectiveness.
Enhanced Contamination Control: Filter pipette tips offer extra containment which is very important in experiments where even a drop of impurity may alter the outcome.
Improved Sample Handling: The filter is used in dealing with aggressive or corrosive liquids as they will not come into contact with the internal parts of the pipette hence protecting both the sample and the pipette.
Reduced Maintenance Costs: Filter tips also eliminate the need for frequent washing and maintenance of the pipette, which in the long run will be cheaper than the cost of maintaining the pipettes.
Versatility: Filter pipettes, usually, come in standard and non-standard sizes and filter types and are used in different scientific disciplines.
Conclusion
Filter pipette tips are used widely in contemporary laboratories for offering better safety against contamination, better quality of samples, and longer durability of pipette instruments. Due to this, their ability to reduce cross-contamination, accuracy, and low maintenance cost, makes them an essential tool in several scientific and clinical uses. In handling delicate biological specimens, executing intricate molecular biology procedures, or even conducting diagnostic assays, filter pipette tips provide the security and reliability that are required for the achievement of accurate and precise results in the laboratory.
FAQs
Q1. What is the use of the filter in the filter pipette tip?
The filter in a filter pipette tip is used to help minimize the risks of contamination by aerosols or liquid droplets getting into the pipette and onto subsequent samples. It prevents the pipette's internal parts from getting contaminated and keeps the sample free from contamination.
Q2. Are filter pipette tips suitable for any type of liquid?
These filter pipette tips are usually all round but they may not be appropriate for all liquids. It is compatible with most of the aqueous solutions and volatile liquids. But if the fluid is highly viscous or extremely corrosive, there are filter tips available in the market that are specifically suitable for these two types of fluids.
Q3. In what way do filter pipette tips affect the accuracy of liquid handling?
Filter pipette tips are useful in making sure that aerosols or residuals do not contaminate the sample hence making sure that accuracy is not affected. The protection is also beneficial in maintaining the cleanliness of the sample and the pipette thus enhancing the accuracy of the measurements.
