What can I do in my laboratory to maintain my own pipettes?

As a population, pipettes checked annually without any preventative maintenance or regular servicing procedures in place, will have a 20% or more failure rate.
Over 60% of pipette failure is attributable to sealing system defects. This is predictable but preventable. Under normal use and based on manufacturer’s recommendations seals should be replaced at least once per year, while tip holders and pistons should be replaced every three to five years.

Seals, o-rings, tip holders, tip ejectors and the volume adjustment knobs can easily be changed in your own laboratory without affecting the calibration of your pipettes There are however a number of parts that when changed can alter the pipettes calibration. These parts include the piston and piston assembly, friction o-ring, operating rod and volumeter. When these need changing it is best to return your pipettes to your service provider for replacement and pipette re-calibration.
Prevention is better than cure.

It is recommended that you check your pipettes daily before use and establish a routine for basic servicing. There are a number of basic care checks for your pipettes that can be performed in your own laboratory to maintain correct functionality in between full servicing. These include a simple functionality check and a visual leak test.

 

Signs that your Pipette may need servicing:

Pipette leaks—pipette drips or fails to pick up.
Volume is variable—sample is to high or too low
Physical damage—pipette shows signs of damage or has been dropped.

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