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What are the best ways to improve your pipetting skills in a biotech lab?

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Pipetting is one of the most essential and frequent skills in a biotech lab. It involves transferring precise volumes of liquids between containers using a pipette, a device that can be manual or electronic. Pipetting accurately and consistently can make a big difference in the quality and reliability of your experiments, as well as your efficiency and safety. In this article, you will learn some of the best ways to improve your pipetting skills in a biotech lab, from choosing the right pipette and tips, to practicing good technique and calibration, to avoiding common errors and pitfalls.

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Muhammad Ali

Graduate Student @ NYU | Fulbrighter??| Computational Aging Research ??
Damian Toczyd?owski

Breaking the Code of Life via Epigenomics & Functional Genomics ?? Pioneering The Future of Epigenetics ?? Scientist ??…

1 Choose the right pipette and tips

The first step to improve your pipetting skills is to choose the right pipette and tips for your task. There are different types and sizes of pipettes and tips, each with their own specifications and limitations. You should select the pipette and tip that match the volume range, accuracy, precision, and compatibility of your liquid and container. For example, you should use a micropipette and microtips for volumes between 0.1 and 1000 microliters, and a volumetric or graduated pipette and serological tips for volumes above 1 milliliter. You should also check the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations for optimal performance and maintenance of your pipette and tips.

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Damian Toczyd?owski

Breaking the Code of Life via Epigenomics & Functional Genomics ?? Pioneering The Future of Epigenetics ?? Scientist ?? Epigeneticist & Geneticist
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Pipetting is like getting behind the wheel. In the beginning, while you learn, you're comfortable with one car, much like you prefer your set of favourite pipettes. Yet, once you pass the driving examination, you're likely to switch between various cars and drive different routes. Likewise, in your career, you might find yourself working in diverse labs with an array of equipment. So you actually must adapt to that sooner or later (once you will develop your pipetting skills).

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2 Practice good technique and calibration

The second step to improve your pipetting skills is to practice good technique and calibration. Good technique involves holding the pipette correctly, adjusting the plunger smoothly, immersing the tip properly, dispensing the liquid completely, and changing the tip frequently. You should also follow the steps of pre-wetting, reverse pipetting, or repetitive pipetting, depending on the type and viscosity of your liquid. Calibration is the process of verifying and adjusting the accuracy and precision of your pipette, using a balance and a standard solution. You should calibrate your pipette regularly, especially if you change the tip, the volume, or the liquid.

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Muhammad Ali

Graduate Student @ NYU | Fulbrighter??| Computational Aging Research ??
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Often the reagents used in labs are very expensive and supervisors may not be very enthusiastic about letting untrained students practice with them. However, my supervisor helped us learn how to pipette correctly with distilled water. It helped us get a sense of how to extract liquid without wetting the tip excessively, how to collect supernatant without disturbing the pellet, and how to maneuver your pipette around to mix things, discard tips, fill out tiny vials with precision, and - most importantly - ensure that you are not contaminating the tips of the pipette by touching them against the rim of the vials.

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Damian Toczyd?owski

Breaking the Code of Life via Epigenomics & Functional Genomics ?? Pioneering The Future of Epigenetics ?? Scientist ?? Epigeneticist & Geneticist
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Certainly, the most inexpensive products on the market aren't ideal, especially in a molecular biology/genomics lab where precision in handling volumes is crucial. While you don't necessarily need the top-tier branded and pricey pipettes, you should always invest in quality. Regular maintenance and calibrations are essential. Unless you're throwing pipettes against the wall (when experiments fail), consistency in volume is generally maintained. The more you use and familiarize yourself with your pipette, the better your technique will become. Keep practicing and don't give up on your pipette and/or lab coat.

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3 Avoid common errors and pitfalls

The third step to improve your pipetting skills is to avoid common errors and pitfalls that can compromise your results and safety. Some of the common errors are pipetting air instead of liquid, pipetting more or less than the desired volume, pipetting bubbles or droplets, pipetting at an angle or with inconsistent speed, and pipetting contaminated or incompatible liquids. Some of the common pitfalls are using a damaged or dirty pipette or tip, using an inappropriate or expired liquid or container, exposing the pipette or tip to temperature or humidity changes, and forgetting to record or label your pipetting actions. You should always check your pipette and tip before and after use, follow the standard operating procedures and protocols, and wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.

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4 Learn from feedback and resources

The fourth step to improve your pipetting skills is to learn from feedback and resources. Feedback can come from your own observation, your supervisor, your colleagues, or your instruments. You should monitor your pipetting performance, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and seek advice and guidance from others. You should also use the feedback to correct your mistakes, improve your methods, and set your goals. Resources can come from various sources, such as books, journals, websites, videos, or courses. You should explore the resources that are relevant, reliable, and accessible to you, and use them to update your knowledge, skills, and best practices.

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5 Test your pipetting skills

The fifth step to improve your pipetting skills is to test your pipetting skills. Testing your pipetting skills can help you evaluate your progress, measure your outcomes, and challenge yourself. You can test your pipetting skills in different ways, such as using a pipette accuracy tester, a pipette challenge kit, or a pipette quiz. You can also test your pipetting skills in different scenarios, such as under time pressure, with different liquids and containers, or with different pipettes and tips. You should test your pipetting skills regularly, compare your results with the standards or benchmarks, and celebrate your achievements.

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6 Share your pipetting skills

The sixth step to improve your pipetting skills is to share your pipetting skills. Sharing your pipetting skills can help you communicate your findings, collaborate with others, and contribute to the biotech community. You can share your pipetting skills in different formats, such as reports, presentations, posters, or blogs. You can also share your pipetting skills in different platforms, such as conferences, workshops, forums, or social media. You should share your pipetting skills clearly, confidently, and ethically, and respect the feedback and opinions of others.

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Damian Toczyd?owski

Breaking the Code of Life via Epigenomics & Functional Genomics ?? Pioneering The Future of Epigenetics ?? Scientist ?? Epigeneticist & Geneticist
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The most effective way to display your pipetting expertise is by demonstrating it directly to your colleagues (in the lab). When you're involved in NGS library preparation, this hands-on approach allows you to determine the exact or approximate concentrations of your libraries. The QC assessment then evaluates your work and assigns an appropriate "grade".This is the moment where you'll find out your level of "pipetting" proficiency.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Damian Toczyd?owski

Breaking the Code of Life via Epigenomics & Functional Genomics ?? Pioneering The Future of Epigenetics ?? Scientist ?? Epigeneticist & Geneticist
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Switching from manually handling pipettes to being the overseer of robot workflows is an eye-opener. You start realising how the little things matter – like the tip type, plastic quality, pressure, contact head, liquid detection level, and all secrets of mechanics. It's only when you've dealt with different robots and automated systems that you truly get the hang of pipetting buffers and stuff. This experience is incredibly valuable.

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What are the best ways to improve your pipetting skills in a biotech lab?

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1 Choose the right pipette and tips

2 Practice good technique and calibration

3 Avoid common errors and pitfalls

4 Learn from feedback and resources

5 Test your pipetting skills

6 Share your pipetting skills

7 Here’s what else to consider

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