Pipette Specific Tips Frequently Asked Questions

Pipette specific tips can be either standard, filtered, sterile, of low binding, of extended length or of wide bore/orifice. Standard tips are suitable for most applications while filtered tips are recommended when it’s critical to avoid sample cross-contamination. Low binding or low retention tips are good for working with viscous and sticky liquids. Tips with an extended length are suitable when you want to collect samples and avoid inserting the pipette shaft inside tubes or bottles. Wide bore pipette tips or wide orifice tips are perfect for handling cultured cells or DNA samples. These tips have a larger opening to more easily aspirate and dispense viscous, particulate or difficult solutions. These tips are only supplied in racks and are available as non-sterile and sterile packs.

If it is critical to protect samples from cross-contamination, choose filtered pipette tips. If you are working with aquous liquids, standard tips are sufficient. If you are working with viscous liquids, with PCR master mixes, enzyme solutions and buffers, or if you simply want to preserve expensive reagents or precious samples, choose low retention tips with filter.

Pipette specific tips are only compatible with their corresponding brand and for those models indicated in the specifications. Specific tips can only be used with their corresponding model because the design of the tip cone or nose cone has certain features to improve sealing or loading and the tip must match those features and design.

Yes, it is possible to sterilize non-filtered pipette tips which are not already sterile. Many manufacturers offer both ready-to-use sterile tips and non-sterile versions of the same tip if you prefer to sterilize them manually. The most common way to sterilize tips is to autoclave them as it is the simplest and quickest method. For most plastic pipettes, autoclaving requires heating at 121°C for 20 minutes. Some pipette specific tips can be autoclaved and this is indicated in the specifications. However, this is normally intended for sterilization before use of non-sterile tips. Pipette tips are normally single use only according to their specifications.

For most automated liquid handling platforms it may not be possible to autoclave tips, as it can change the liquid handling performance and introduce variation into experimental results. Therefore, most users, especially in high throughput labs, use tips that are supplied sterile. Opt for consumables that are labelled as “sterile” as they are guaranteed sterile during manufacturing, for example by conforming to ISO 11137 and to packaging and transport norms (e.g. ISO 11607 and ISTA 2A) that ensure sterility is maintained all the way to your laboratory.

Most pipette tips are offered in rack, bulk, refill, hinged rack, pack of 96, as bagged and reload. Before selecting the packaging, make sure to choose the pipette tips recommended by the pipette manufacturer. Choose the packaging based on your pipetting needs. For example, sterilized and filtered pipette tips come in single tray packages and in racks. If your application is less critical than that, consider saving plastic and choose one of the refill or bagged options. These options also help save bench and storage space. Refill tips are an environmentally friendly solution that also help to reduce transportation emissions.