Pipette Maintenance: How to Clean, Lubricate, Disinfect, and Self-Test

Today let’s take a look at how to properly clean, lubricate, disinfect and self-check pipettes. 1. How to clean a pipette? 01. For external cleaning, use a damp cloth containing soap, dish soap or 60% isopropyl alcohol cleaning solution to remove dirt on the outside of the pipette, then rinse with double-distilled water and let dry.

02. Internal cleaning is only applicable to pipettes (Researchplus, Reference2, Xplorer/Xplorerplus), not applicable to dispensers E3/E3x/M4

03. The frequency of internal cleaning is recommended at least once a year. However, depending on the frequency and intensity of use, it can be adjusted to once every six months or once every quarter. If a pipette accidentally aspirates a sample and becomes contaminated, immediate internal cleaning is required.

04. How to clean the interior. Internal cleaning is mainly for the sleeve; if the piston, spring, etc. are also stained, they also need to be cleaned. Use soap, dishwashing liquid or 60% isopropyl alcohol to clean, rinse with double distilled water, and dry before assembly;

2. How to lubricate the pipette? 01. Why lubrication is needed? Lubrication can better ensure the accuracy of the pipette and improve the reliability of the results > Lubrication can avoid failures caused by certain factors (such as O-ring aging) > Regular lubrication can increase the service life of the pipette

02. The frequency of lubrication should be at least once a year; depending on the frequency and intensity of use, it can be adjusted to once every six months or even once a quarter;

03. The parts to be lubricated are the inner side of the sleeve (20μL and above range) metal piston (20μL and below range) O-ring (only for multi-channel)

04. How to lubricate pipettes? 1> First disassemble the lower half of the pipette, and use clean gauze or dust-free paper to wipe off the original lubricating oil on the piston. 2> Then use a cotton swab to apply it to the inside of the sleeve (or metal piston) and the surface of the O-ring. Apply a thin layer of silicone grease 3> After assembly, press the button several times to distribute the grease evenly

3. How to disinfect pipettes? 01.Which devices support high temperature and high pressure sterilization? Researchplus and Reference2 pipettes can be fully autoclavable. Xplorer/Xplorerplus can only be sterilized in half. Dispensers (M4/E3/E3x) cannot be autoclavable.

02. Sterilization step 1> Wrap the sterilized part with materials such as sterilization bags, tin foil or kraft paper (it is best to loosen the lower half of the pipette to allow steam to enter the interior for sterilization), and sterilize at 121°C, 1bar 20 minutes 2> After sterilization is completed, cool the pipette to room temperature, dry it, and install it.

03. Special Tips 1> When sterilizing, make sure the temperature does not exceed 121°C2> When performing high temperature, high pressure or ultraviolet irradiation sterilization, do not use any additional disinfectants, detergents or sodium hypochlorite 3> For 5ml and 10ml For pipettes, the old filter element needs to be removed and replaced with a new filter element after autoclaving. The filter element can only be autoclaved once

UV irradiation sterilization Eppendorf pipettes are made of UV-resistant high-quality materials and can be surface sterilized under UV light, especially suitable for cell culture laboratories. (Note: Avoid shining the screen of the electric pipette)

4. How to perform self-check on pipette/dispenser? 01. Rapid detection of pipettes Rapid detection of pipettes (Researchplus, Reference2, Xplorer/Xplorerplus) (1) Tip leakage or inaccurate dispensing volume Possible reasons: loose tip or mismatched tip Solution Solution: Insert the tip tightly; use Eppentorfep T.l.P.S. tips. If 5ml and 10ml pipettes are used to try the filter element, do not use the filter element. Possible reasons: pipetting liquids that are viscous, volatile or have obvious differences in density from water. Solution: pre-wet the tip several times or pass the density Possible reasons for adjusting function adjustment: pipetting too fast. Solution: move the control button slowly, sucking and releasing slowly. Cause: The tip leaves the liquid surface too quickly. Solution: Stay under the liquid surface for 3 seconds, and then slowly remove the tip. Possible cause: The piston is contaminated or damaged. Solution: Clean or replace the piston. Possible cause: The pipette nozzle is damaged. Solution for damaged O-ring: Replace O-ring (100μL and 300μL multi-channel pipettes only)

(2) The control button is difficult to move and feels astringent. Possible reasons: The piston is contaminated. Solution: Clean the lower part of the pipette. For 5mL and 10mL pipettes, replace the filter element. Possible reasons: The sealing ring is contaminated. Solution: Clean the pipette. Lower part, for 5mL and 11mL pipettes, replace the filter. Possible cause: Pipette clogged. Solution: Clean the lower part of the pipette. For 5mL and 12mL pipettes, replace the filter.

(3) The nozzle has no elastic expansion and contraction when installing the tip. Possible reason: the locking ring cancels the spring loading. Solution: remove the locking ring. The 5mL and 10mL pipettes do not have elastic suction tips. Possible reason: the 5mL or 10mL pipette is used. Pipette Solution: Remove the locking ring, 5mL and 10mL pipettes do not have elastic tips

02 Quick detection of the dispenser Quick detection of the dispenser (M4, E3/E3x) (1) Battery symbol display Possible reasons: The battery power is too low Solution: Replace the battery (2) Battery symbol display Possible reasons: The battery power is too low Low solution: Replace the battery immediately (3) The dispensing tube cannot be inserted. Possible reasons: The dispensing tube is not Combitipsadvanced. Liquid tube solution: Use the Combitipsadvanced dispenser tube (4). The dispenser tube cannot aspirate liquid. Possible reasons: The dispenser tube is not a Combitipsadvanced dispenser tube. Solution: Use the Combitipsadvanced dispenser tube (5). The dispenser tube cannot be removed. Possible reasons: Filling. The rod is not pushed to the bottom. Solution: Fill in the Push the charging rod as far as possible to the bottom. Possible reasons: Insufficient pressure on the operating rod. Solution: Press the operating rod (6) as hard as possible. The display screen is black. Possible reasons: The Combitipsadvanced dispenser tube is not inserted. Solution: The Combitipsadvanced dispenser tube is inserted. Possible reasons: The battery is dead. Solution: Replace battery Possible cause: C ombitip sensor error solution: Contact Eppendorf after-sales service personnel Possible cause: Motion sensor error Solution: Contact Eppendorf after-sales service personnel (7) Pedometer step display error Possible cause: Incorrectly interfered with step counting information Solution: When selecting When the volume is reached, the maximum number of dispensing steps is displayed. Press the operating lever to blow out the air. After adding excess volume, the number of completed steps begins to be displayed. Possible cause: Insufficient pressure when operating the operating lever. Solution: Press the operating lever (8) as hard as possible. There are air bubbles in the dispensing tube. Possible cause: Air is sucked in during suction. Solution: Suction again. Liquid Possible cause: High viscosity liquid is absorbed too quickly Solution: Slowly absorb liquid (9) "C02ErrC03Err" Possible causes : Combitipsadvanced Dispensing Tube Bent Solution: Do not use a bent Combitipsadvanced Dispensing Tube Possible Cause: Combitipsadvanced Dispensing Tube is not fully inserted Solution: Re-insert the Dispensing Tube after removal and check whether the Dispensing Tube is damaged Possible Cause: Combitipsadvanced Dispensing Tube The dvanced dispenser tube is not completely removed. Solution: Push the filling rod as far as possible to the bottom, and press the operating lever as hard as possible. Possible cause: The dispenser tube or adapter is damaged. Solution: Replace with a new dispenser tube (10) S03Err. Possible cause: Option tray location. Incorrect/misaligned Solution: Align numbers or points (11) Inaccuracy and inaccuracy are too high Possible causes: Operation Insufficient pressing force when operating the operating rod. Solution: Re-dispensing. Possible cause: Combitipsadvanced dispensing tube is reused too many times. Solution: Re-dispensing. Possible cause: Insufficient amount of suction liquid. Solution: Re-dispensing. Possible cause: Excessive inhalation of air bubbles. Multiple solutions: Resume the liquid. Possible reasons: The dispenser is held at the wrong angle. Solution: Resume the liquid.

Scientific research is inseparable from accurate experimental data, and high-quality scientific research instruments are the basis for reducing experimental errors! OpentronsFlex high-precision pipetting workstation brings together domestic and foreign high-quality instruments and equipment, reagent consumables, and tailor-made laboratory platform construction solutions for you , is your considerate assistant on the road to scientific research!