1: Select a pipette with high pipetting accuracy close to the nominal volume of the pipette. The larger the pipetting volume is from the nominal volume, the worse the pipetting accuracy will be. as close to the nominal volume as possible. For example: for a pipetting volume of 100 μl, use a 100 μl pipette, not a 1000 μl pipette.

2: The condition of the pipette. Dirt, wear and damage can lead to loose sealing and incorrect pipetting results. Use pipettes carefully and clean and maintain them regularly. Occasionally clean the inside of the pipette and lubricate the piston with grease (observe the instructions in the user manual!) Check for damage before use.

3: Selection of pipette tips. Poor quality pipette tips will lead to lax sealing, resulting in large pipetting errors. Use original tips and pipette tips recommended by the manufacturer. Check if other brands of tips are suitable. Inexpensive tips are often not the best choice!

4: Installation of pipette tips Improperly installed tips often lead to lax sealing. Install the pipette tip vertically, and pay attention to the appropriate force when installing the tip. It takes a lot of practice to install the tip correctly. When in doubt, check the tightness.

5: Liquid media with supercooled or superheated temperatures have other densities. The temperature difference between the pipette tip and the aspirated liquid can also cause changes in the volume of liquid within the tip. The pipette and the liquid being transferred should be at the same temperature (room temperature) as much as possible. Pipettes that are frequently hung on a rack should be protected from heating by manual removal of the pipette.

6: Pretreatment If the pipette is not pretreated, the liquid medium will evaporate into the air column during the pipetting step. The lower the air humidity, the stronger the evaporation effect. Before pipetting begins, precondition the pipette with the liquid medium to be transferred. That is: aspirate and empty the pipetted liquid five times before pipetting. Perform preconditioning every time the suction head is replaced.

7: Pressure points cannot always be accurately grasped due to lack of experience or hand fatigue. Mastering pressure point control is only possible with practice! Give your thumbs a rest.

8: Insertion depth: Inserting the pipette tip too deeply will also lead to an increase in the amount of pipetting. There is also an increased risk of droplets adhering to the outside of the tip. The tip only penetrates a few millimeters below the surface of the liquid.

9: Hold the pipette at an angle. When aspirating liquid, hold the pipette at an angle to insert the liquid medium. When aspirating, always keep the pipette vertically inserted into the liquid; when discharging, keep the angle stable (20 to 45°)

10: Releasing the pipette button too quickly while busy pipetting can cause bubbles to appear in the liquid. In severe cases, liquid will be sucked into the pipette body. Releasing the pipette button prematurely may also result in a reduced pipette volume being aspirated. Deliberately ‘delay’ releasing the pipette button and allowing it to withdraw slowly and evenly.