How to Use a Micropipette
TLDRThis instructional script outlines the use of micropipettes for measuring and transferring small volumes of liquid, typically less than a milliliter. It introduces different types of micropipettes, such as P1000 for 100 to 1000 microliters and P20 for 2 to 20 microliters, and explains their volume indication system. The script demonstrates setting the volume on a P20 micropipette, attaching disposable tips, and the process of aspirating and expelling liquid using the plunger mechanism. It emphasizes proper technique to avoid damaging the pipette and ensures accurate liquid measurement.
Takeaways
- 🧪 Micropipettes are precision tools used for measuring small volumes of liquid, typically less than a milliliter.
- 🔍 There are various types of micropipettes, each designed for different volume ranges, such as P1000 for 100 to 1000 microliters and P20 for 2 to 20 microliters.
- 📏 Pipettes are marked to indicate the range of volumes they are intended to measure, with different digits representing thousands, hundreds, tens, and tenths places.
- 🛠️ To set the volume on a micropipette, such as the P20, you gently pull up and turn the black wheel to the desired volume.
- ⚠️ It's important to only adjust the pipette volume within its designed range to avoid damaging the device.
- 💉 Disposable plastic pipette tips are used with micropipettes, with different types of tips for different pipettes.
- 🔧 The pipette plunger is operated by a button on top, which has two stops to control the aspiration and expulsion of liquid.
- 💧 To aspirate fluid, the plunger button is pushed down to the first stop, and the tip is placed into the liquid until the plunger returns to its original position.
- 📦 When expelling liquid, the pipette tip is placed into the desired tube, and the plunger button is pushed down to the first stop to release the liquid.
- 🔄 To ensure no liquid remains in the tip, the plunger is pushed past the first stop to the second stop, expelling any residual liquid.
- 🚫 It's crucial to hold down the plunger button until the tip is no longer touching the fluid to prevent aspirating the liquid back into the tip.
Q & A
What are micropipettes used for?
-Micropipettes are used to measure and dispense small volumes of liquid, typically less than a milliliter.
What is the range of volumes that a P1000 micropipette can measure?
-A P1000 micropipette is designed to measure volumes from 100 microliters to 1000 microliters.
What is the volume range for a P20 micropipette?
-A P20 micropipette is used to measure volumes from 2 microliters to 20 microliters.
How does the volume setting window on a micropipette work?
-The volume setting window shows the volume of fluid that the pipette is set to take up, with digits representing different place values depending on the pipette type.
How can you set the volume on a P20 micropipette?
-To set the volume on a P20 micropipette, you gently pull up and turn the black wheel until the desired volume is displayed.
What should you do after adjusting the pipette volume?
-After adjusting the pipette volume, you should push the black wheel back into its original position to lock the setting.
Why should you not adjust the pipette volume outside its designed range?
-Adjusting the pipette volume outside its designed range can damage the micropipette and affect its accuracy.
What is a disposable plastic pipette tip and how is it used?
-A disposable plastic pipette tip is a small plastic tube that fits onto the end of a micropipette to take up or dispense liquid. It is used to prevent cross-contamination between samples.
How do you take up liquid into the pipette tip?
-To take up liquid, place the tip into the fluid and press the plunger button down to the first stop while keeping the button held down.
How do you expel liquid from the pipette tip?
-To expel liquid, place the tip into the desired tube and slowly push down on the plunger button to the first stop. To remove the last bit of liquid, push past the first stop to the second stop.
What is the importance of keeping the pipette tip in the fluid while the plunger is released?
-Keeping the pipette tip in the fluid ensures that the liquid is drawn up into the tip. Removing the tip before the plunger is fully released may result in aspirating the fluid back into the tip.
Outlines
🧪 Micropipette Basics and Volume Measurement
Micropipettes are essential tools for measuring and transferring small volumes of liquid, typically less than a milliliter. They come in various types, each designed for specific volume ranges, such as the P1000 for 100 to 1000 microliters and the P20 for 2 to 20 microliters. Each pipette is marked to indicate its volume range, with a window showing the set volume. For example, the P1000 has a red upper digit for thousands, hundreds, and tens places, while the P20 has tens, ones, and tenths places. The P20 is used to demonstrate setting the volume by gently pulling up and turning the black wheel, and it should not be adjusted outside its designed range to avoid damage.
🔬 Operation of the P20 Micropipette
The P20 micropipette is used to illustrate the general principles of micropipette usage. To operate it, one must first attach a disposable plastic pipette tip, ensuring it is firmly seated. The pipette plunger, operated by a button on top, has two stops: the first for aspirating fluid and the second for expelling any remaining liquid. To take up liquid, the plunger is pressed down to the first stop while the tip is submerged, then slowly released to draw the liquid up. The plunger is fully released once the tip is out of the fluid. To expel liquid, the tip is placed into the desired tube and the plunger is pushed down to the first stop. To ensure no liquid is left in the tip, the plunger is pushed past the first to the second stop. This process prevents aspirating fluid back into the tip.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡micropipettes
💡volume ranges
💡P1000
💡P20
💡volume setting
💡pipette tips
💡aspiration
💡plunger
💡dispensing
💡micro centrifuge tube
💡cleaning
Highlights
Micropipettes are used to measure small volumes, typically less than a milliliter.
Different types of micropipettes exist for measuring various volume ranges.
Each pipette is marked to indicate the range of volumes it is designed to measure.
The P1000 micropipette is used to measure volumes from 100 to 1000 microliters.
The P20 micropipette is used to measure volumes from 2 to 20 microliters.
The window on the pipette shows the volume of fluid it is set to take up.
The P1000 has a red upper digit for the thousands place, hundreds place, and tens place.
The P20 has a top digit for the tens place, a next digit for the ones place, and a red bottom digit for tenths.
The P20 is set to take up 12.5 microliters in the example.
To use a micropipette, first place a disposable plastic pipette tip onto the end.
Different types of tips are used with different micropipettes.
Fluid is taken up into and expelled from the pipette tip using the micropipette plunger.
The plunger is operated by pushing down on the button on top of the plunger.
The plunger has two stops - push to the first stop when taking up fluid.
To draw fluid, place the pipette tip into the fluid and slowly release the button.
Ensure the plunger regains its original position before removing the tip from the fluid.
To expel liquid, place the tip into the desired tube and push down on the plunger button.
Push past the first stop to the second stop to expel any remaining liquid in the tip.
Hold down the button until the tip is no longer touching the fluid to avoid aspirating fluid back into the tip.
Transcripts
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
Thanks for rating: