Pipettes can be found in almost every laboratory and, if you’re looking to buy one, there are many options—manual or electronic, single or multi-channel. Luckily, a few main considerations can help in deciding whether or not to buy the latest pipette technology.
Top 5 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Pipette
- What differentiates the pipette from others offered in terms of performance and ergonomics?
- Is the product compatible with other manufacturers’ consumables (tips)?
- What types of services are offered for this product? Calibration? Repair?
- Does the company offer application support and technical phone support before and after product purchase?
- What is the product life expectation? What is the product’s warranty period? If the company discontinues the product, for how many years do they provide accessories and parts for the instrument?
Types of pipettes used by survey respondents:
| Manual: Single-channel | 87% |
| Manual: Multi-channel | 43% |
| Repeater | 41% |
| Manual: Fixed-volume | 32% |
| Electronic: Single-channel | 26% |
| Electronic: Multi-channel | 18% |
| Electronic: Fixed volume | 4% |
| Other | 3% |
Most common pipetting errors experienced by survey respondents:
| Human errors | 70% |
| Liquids stick to tip | 45% |
| Viscosity reduces accuracy | 43% |
| Surface tension reduces accuracy | 34% |
| Pipettes take up more liquid | 24% |
| Immersed tips carry over liquid | 20% |
| Liquid temperature | 16% |
| Liquids evaporate | 11% |
| Other | 7% |
Nearly 62% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new pipette:
| Reviewing available options | 38% |
| Plan to purchase in 12+ months | 35% |
| Plan to purchase in 6 to 12 months | 16% |
| Plan to purchase in the next 1 to 6 months | 11% |
Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing a pipette:
| Consistent performance and accuracy of product | 94% |
| Durability of product | 82% |
| Availability of tips and accessories | 70% |
| Low maintenance / easy to clean | 67% |
| Price | 63% |
| Designed to permit recalibration | 62% |
| Ergonomic operation | 46% |
| Service and support | 41% |
| Warranties | 37% |
| Ease of adjustment for various viscous liquids | 35% |
For more information on pipettes, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/pipettes
See survey results from previous years:
