PIPETTING TECHNIQUES AND VOLUMETRIC MEASUREMENTS

Introduction:
The ability to accurately pipette is a critical skill required of all clinical laboratory scientists.
Accurate and precise pipetting skills are required to prepare accurate and precise dilutions of
various reagents and patient specimens when performing quantitative measurements in the
clinical laboratory. This may include preparing
1. Dilutions of patient samples when the concentration of a substance is too high to be
accurately measured
2. Stock standards to yield various target concentrations for working standards
3. Controls used to assess instrument performance and validity of test results
4. Reagents

Most clinical laboratory procedures require accurate volumetric measurements to ensure accurate
results. Such measurements may be made by manual pipettes (serologic, volumetric and micro),
dispensing devices, automated pipettes, burets, volumetric flasks and graduated cylinders. The
reliability of these devices can vary considerably, and not all of these devices are suitable for the
most accurate work. The maximum allowable error (or tolerance limits) for these devices are set
by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). For exact work, only Class A
glassware should be used, as this class of glassware meets NIST specifications.

Calibration of pipettes
Pipettes are checked by the laboratory to ensure accurate delivery of a specified volume. When
the laboratory does this ‘check’, the CLS refers to it as ‘checking or verifying pipette
calibration’. In other words, we are checking to make sure the pipette is still ‘calibrated’ to
deliver a specified volume.

Macro-volume pipettes that are Class A do not need periodic calibration checks by the
laboratory. These pipettes are calibrated to deliver a specified volume by the manufacturer. As
long as the pipette is properly used this is true. Most laboratories will use only class A macro-
pipettes and glassware so that in-house calibration checks are not needed. This saves time and
money.

Calibration of micro-volume pipettes is required by the laboratory at periodic intervals (usually

quarterly) to verify accurate delivery of a specified volume of liquid. Micro-pipette calibration
may be verified several ways. The most commonly used methods in the clinical laboratory are:
1. Measuring the weight of a specific volume of distilled water at room temperature:
One milliliter (ml) of dH2O weighs 1 gram at room temperature
2. The absorbance (or %T) of a specific volume of a colored solution is measured
spectrophotometrically and the absorbance (or %T) is compared to established
tolerance limits (most often done)
3. Acid/base titration

CLS 414 Clinical Chemistry: Student Lab Rotation 2

Pipetting Handout
Types of MACRO-VOLUME PIPETS commonly used:

Most laboratories use volumetric and serologic pipettes. Mohr pipettes are seldom used in the
clinical laboratory due to potential misuse of this pipette which causes invalid test results.

1. VOLUMETRIC: Also see video: Techniques: Volumetric

a. This type of pipette delivers a single, specified volume of fluid. Pipettes differ in
size and thus volume to be delivered: 1ml, 2ml, 3ml, 5ml, 10 ml, etc
b. Designed with an open-ended bulb in the center of the pipette which holds the
bulk of the fluid, a long glass tube at the upper end which has a mark indicating
the proper filling level and a tapering lower end to deliver the liquid
c. When delivering the fluid to a receiving vessel,
1) The contents of the pipette are allowed to drain by gravity without
touching the inside walls of the receiving vessel
2) After the fluid stops flowing into the receiving container, the bottom tip of
the pipette is touched to the inside surface of the receiving container to
allow fluid to be delivered to the receiving vessel by capillary draw. The
fluid remaining in the tip after capillary draw is allowed to remain in the
pipette tip (ie: pipette is not completely drained; pipette is not blown out)
3) The tip of the pipette SHOULD NEVER come in contact with the
accumulating fluid in the receiving vessel during drainage
d. This is the most accurate pipette and should be used when diluting or preparing
standards and controls

CLS 414 Clinical Chemistry: Student Lab Rotation 3

Pipetting Handout
2. SEROLOGIC: (figure A) Also see 3 videos: Techniques: Serologic;
Pipettes: Blow-out Pipet; Pipettes: Volumetric vs Serologic
a. This type of pipette is capable of delivering multiple volumes of fluid. Pipettes
differ in size and thus volumes to be delivered: 1ml, 5ml, etc
b. Designed as long glass tubes of uniform diameter with volume graduations
(usually at 0.1 ml intervals) that extend all the way to the very end of the pipette
delivery tip. Volume graduations make this type of pipette capable of
delivering intermediate volumes of liquid (3.9 ml, 4.5 ml, 5.0 ml, 9.8
ml, 10.0 ml, etc)
1) Measurement from the upper fill mark to a lower mark ensures
accurate delivery of the pipette’s specified volume
2) Partial measurements using the last few milliliters of the
pipette in or near the delivery tip are inaccurate (and thus
discouraged) due to changes in the diameter of the pipette
Serologic pipettes are also identified by the frosted rings (or pair of
rings or a solid ring) near the upper end. The frosted/solid rings
indicate the pipette is a blow-out pipette
c. When delivering fluid to a receiving vessel,
1) The contents are allowed to drain by gravity without touching
the inside walls of the receiving vessel
2) After the fluid stops flowing into the receiving container, the
fluid remaining in the tip is completely expelled into the
receiving container using one ‘puff’ of air from a safety bulb
(blow-out step). The bottom tip of the pipette is touched to the
inside surface of the receiving container to collect the last bit of
fluid adhering to the pipette’s tip.
3) The tip of the pipette SHOULD NEVER come in contact with
the accumulating fluid in the receiving vessel during drainage
d. Used most often in the laboratory for routine work; ideal for titrations

3. MOHR: (figure B)
a. These pipettes are similar to serologic pipettes in that they have
multiple volume graduations, but they do not have graduated volume
markings to the bottom of the pipette tip, nor do they have etched
rings at the top of the pipette.
b. These pipettes require a controlled delivery of the solution between the
upper fill mark and the intended lower mark
c. The tip of the pipette SHOULD NEVER come in contact with the accumulating
fluid in the receiving vessel during drainage or the inside walls of the receiving
vessel when dispensing of sample
d. Most laboratories discourage use of the Mohr pipette because it is often mistaken
as a serologic pipette and is used improperly:
1) Error: fluid remaining in the tip after drainage is ‘blown’ into the
receiving vessel, resulting in extra volume of liquid being delivered
2) Error: when delivering sample to receiving vessel, the Mohr pipette tip is
allowed to touch the inside of the receiving vessel, resulting in an
inaccurate fluid volume delivery

CLS 414 Clinical Chemistry: Student Lab Rotation 4

Pipetting Handout
PROPER PIPETTING TECHNIQUE using macro-volume pipettes:
1. Choose the pipette which approximates the volume you wish to measure and the accuracy
of measurement required:
a. If you want to measure 3.2 ml of reagent, you would choose a 5 ml serologic
pipette rather than a 10 ml serologic pipette.
b. If you want to dilute a control using 10 ml of d-H2O, you would choose a 10 ml
volumetric pipette

2. Inspect the pipette carefully. The pipette should be clean and the tip not chipped. Dirty
pipettes will drain unevenly and inaccurately; chipped tips alter the volume delivered.

3. NEVER MOUTH PIPET: a rubber bulb or other device is used to fill the pipette with
fluid above the mark. Careful aspiration of the fluid is required so that fluid is not
aspirated beyond the pipette into the bulb. If this should happen, alert your instructor

4. Hold the pipette in a vertical position to increase accuracy and precision.

5. Pipette solutions that are at room temperature to avoid errors caused by contraction
and/or expansion of fluids

6. Any air bubble, regardless of its size, will invalidate the volume of liquid you are trying
to pipette. Should an air bubble appear in the pipette, re-sampling is required.

7. Refer to video demo (blackboard on-line course):

a. Grasp the pipette using the thumb and middle finger
b. Immerse the tip of the pipette below the surface of the liquid
c. Using a safety bulb, exert gentle and continuous suction drawing the liquid into
the pipette until slightly above the fill (calibration) mark.
d. Quickly remove the safety bulb and place your index finger over the open end of
the pipette
e. Withdraw the pipette from the fluid and wipe the excess fluid from the outside
of the pipette with a clean cloth or tissue.
f. Adjust the meniscus to the calibration mark by gently releasing the pressure
exerted by the index finger. When the meniscus of the fluid is at the correct mark,
exert pressure using the index finger to stop and hold the fluid in the pipette so no
drops of fluid are lost
g. Transfer the pipette to the desired receiving vessel and allow the liquid to drain
freely, holding the pipette in a vertical position, taking care not to touch the wall
of the receiving vessel nor the fluid in the vessel
1) If using a volumetric pipette: After the pipette has drained, touch the tip of
the pipette against the inside of the vessel allowing fluid to transfer into
the receiving vessel by capillary draw. The fluid remaining in the pipette
tip should remain in the pipette tip
2) If using a serologic pipette: After the pipette has drained, ‘blow out’ the
fluid remaining in the pipette tip into the receiving vessel using a ‘puff’ of
air from the safety bulb. Touch the tip of the pipette against the inside of
the vessel to deliver the last drop of fluid hanging on the pipette tip.

CLS 414 Clinical Chemistry: Student Lab Rotation 5

Pipetting Handout
8. ALWAYS wipe off the outside of the pipette before adjusting the meniscus to the
desired
mark (refer to step 7e and 7f).

If the meniscus is adjusted before the outside of the pipette is wiped off, fluid will be
pulled out of the pipette onto the wiping cloth by capillary action, thus decreasing the
desired volume to be delivered.

9. The pipette tip SHOULD NEVER come in contact with the fluid in the receiving vessel
when delivering the sample (refer to step 7g)

CLS 414 Clinical Chemistry: Student Lab Rotation 6

Pipetting Handout
Types of MICRO-VOLUME PIPETS commonly used:

1. Generally, when pipetting volumes </= 1.0 ml, a micro-volume pipette is used

2. Several types are available for use; choice depends upon laboratory and intended use
a. Plunger with double stop d. Multiple volume delivery
b. Plunger with single stop e. Automatic or manual tip rejection
c. Single fixed-volume delivery f. Automatic aspiration and delivery

Student Laboratory Rotation (UNMC site): you will learn proper pipetting technique
using the ‘oxford’ pipette. This is a double stop pipette.

Clinical Laboratory Rotation: you will have the opportunity to use other types of
micropipettes such as:
a. ‘MLA’ and ‘Eppendorf’ pipettes: single stop pipettes
b. ‘Focus’ pipette: double stop pipette

CLS 414 Clinical Chemistry: Student Lab Rotation 7

Pipetting Handout
PROPER PIPETTING TECHNIQUE using micro-volume pipettes:
1. Never drop a micro pipette as this may alter the calibration.

2. Verify all pipette parts are firmly assembled

3. Initially before use, depress the plunger knob several times. This acts to redistribute the
lubricant within the pipette. It should feel smooth when the plunger knob is depressed
and released. Alert your instructor if sticking is encountered

4. The plastic pipette tip must be properly fitted onto the pipette: it should be straight and
held firmly in place.

5. When using a plastic tip, pre-rinsing is always required (unless otherwise indicated in the
procedure)

6. Pipette solutions that are at room temperature to avoid errors caused by contraction
and/or expansion of fluids

7. Hold the pipette in a vertical position to increase accuracy and precision

8. Depress and release the plunger with a controlled and smooth action. Try to maintain the
same speed of intake and delivery for all samples (consistency is the key)

9. Never allow the plunger knob to snap back as this will cause aspiration of the liquid past
the pipette tip into the pipette contaminating its interior assembly. If this should happen,
alert your instructor as cleaning of the pipette is required

10. Depress the plunger knob BEFORE inserting the pipette tip into the fluid. Depression of
the plunger knob while it is in the solution will cause bubbles to form in the tip, resulting
in an inaccurate measurement

11. Insert the tip of the pipette into the sample at approximately the same depth each time.
Try not to ‘drown’ the tip into the fluid (never deeper than ¼”)

12. Any air bubble, regardless of its size, will invalidate the volume of liquid you are trying
to pipette. Should an air bubble appear in the pipette, re-sampling is required.

13. When delivering sample to receiving vessel, place plastic pipette tip inside the receiving
vessel without touching the inside wall of the receiving vessel. Touching the wall with
the tip of the pipette while delivering sample alters the ‘flow’ of sample delivery and also
the volume being delivered.

14. Position the sample tip so that the sample does not ‘dribble’ down the entire length of the
inside wall of receiving vessel. This may cause a loss of sample and invalid test results.

15. The plastic pipette tip SHOULD NEVER come in contact with the fluid in the receiving
vessel while delivering the sample (unless otherwise instructed by the procedure)

CLS 414 Clinical Chemistry: Student Lab Rotation 8

Pipetting Handout
 ‘Oxford’ pipette: Also see video: Techniques, Micropipette (Oxford)
This is a TD (to deliver) pipette, and has 2 plunger stop positions: primary and secondary
1. As the plunger knob is depressed, the first stop is encountered. This first depression of
the plunger knob is the primary or calibrated movement that ‘aspirates’ the specified
volume
2. The plunger knob may then be depressed to its lowest position. This is the secondary or
blow out movement (similar to the ‘blow-out’ step when using a serologic pipette)

TO OPERATE the Oxford pipette:

1. Apply a clean plastic tip firmly to the pipette; verify the tip is on straight

2. Depress the plunger knob to the FIRST (upper-most) stop position

This is the 3. Immerse the tip approx 1/8" into the solution
pre-wetting
step that is 4. Return the plunger knob to the release position, aspirating the sample into the
required plastic tip
when using
plastic 5. Slightly remove the plastic tip from solution and return the sample to the original
pipette tips container: depress the plunger knob to the first (upper-most) stop, pause slightly, and
then depress the plunger knob to the second (lowest) position

6. Return the plunger knob to its release position

7. Depress the plunger knob to the FIRST stop (upper-most stop)

8. Immerse the tip approx 1/8" into the solution

9. Return the plunger knob to the release position, aspirating the sample into the plastic tip

10. Remove the plastic tip from solution, and while removing the plastic tip from the
solution, gently ‘swipe’ the tip against the side of the tube to avoid delivering any fluid
adhering to the outside of the plastic tip into the receiving vessel

11. Place plastic tip inside the receiving vessel without touching the inside wall of receiving
vessel. Position sample tip so that delivery of sample does not result in the sample
dribbling down the entire length of the inside wall of receiving vessel. Do not allow the
pipette tip to touch any fluid in the receiving vessel.

12. Deliver the sample to the receiving vessel: depress the plunger knob to the first/upper
stop, pause slightly, and then depress the plunger knob to the second/lowest position
(this secondary movement is used to BLOW OUT the contents of the pipette tip and is
similar to the blow out step used for serologic pipettes)

13. With the plunger knob still held in its lowest position, withdraw the pipette from vessel
(this is done to eliminate aspirating some of the sample from the receiving vessel back
into the plastic tip resulting in delivering a falsely low volume)

14. Return plunger knob to the release position; remove and properly discard plastic tip
CLS 414 Clinical Chemistry: Student Lab Rotation 9
Pipetting Handout
 ‘MLA’ pipette:
1. This is a TD (to deliver) pipette, which has only 1 plunger stop position. The same
plunger stroke is used for aspiration and delivery of sample
2. This type of pipette is most often used in clinical laboratories due to its ease of use

TO OPERATE the MLA pipette:

1. Apply a clean plastic tip firmly to the pipette

2. Depress fully the plunger knob

This is the 3. Immerse the tip approximately 1/8" into the solution
pre-wetting
step that is 4. Return the plunger knob to the release position, aspirating the sample into the
required pipette tip
when using
plastic 5. Slightly remove the plastic tip from solution and return the sample to the original
pipette tips container: fully depress the plunger knob

6. Return plunger knob to its release position

7. Depress fully the plunger knob

8. Immerse the tip approximately 1/8" into the solution

9. Return the plunger knob to the release position, aspirating the sample into the pipette tip

10. Remove the plastic tip from solution: and while removing the plastic tip from the
solution, gently ‘swipe’ the tip against the side of the tube to avoid delivering any fluid
adhering to the outside of the plastic tip into the receiving vessel

11. Place plastic tip inside the receiving vessel without touching the inside wall of receiving
vessel. Position sample tip so that delivery of sample does not result in the sample
dribbling down the entire length of the inside wall of receiving vessel; try to deliver the
sample near the bottom of the vessel while not touching the fluid that is already in the
receiving vessel) Do not allow the pipette tip to touch any fluid in the receiving vessel.

12. Deliver the sample to the receiving vessel: fully depress the plunger knob

13. With the plunger knob fully depressed, withdraw the pipette from vessel
(this is done to eliminate aspirating some of the sample from the receiving vessel back
into the plastic tip resulting in delivering a falsely low volume)

14. Return plunger knob to the release position; remove and properly discard plastic tip

CLS 414 Clinical Chemistry: Student Lab Rotation 10

Pipetting Handout