Pipette-it Kit™: Learn to pipette like a pro!

Accurate and consistent pipetting is an essential skill in biotechnology. Your first task: learn to pipette like a professional!

Biotechnology research, testing, and manufacturing often require scientists to transfer very small volumes of liquid, sometimes as little as one-millionth of a litre. Even a small difference in pipetting technique can affect the outcome of an experiment.

With the Pipette-it Kit™, you will learn and practise the fundamentals of micropipetting through a hands-on accuracy and precision challenge. You will dispense measured volumes of water, weigh your results, and use a spreadsheet to analyze your performance.

How accurate and consistent are your transfers? Compare your results with benchmark data from experienced academic and automated pipetting to find out!

This activity combines practical laboratory technique with data collection, analysis, and visualization. It is ideal for students who want to understand not only how to use a micropipette, but also how scientists evaluate the quality and reliability of their work.

Learn and practise the fundamentals of micropipetting:
• what a micropipette is and how it is used
• how to identify different micropipette sizes and volume ranges
• how to select the appropriate micropipette and tip for the desired volume
• how to set the volume correctly
• how to attach and eject pipette tips
• how to use the first and second plunger stops
• how deeply to immerse the pipette tip when aspirating
• how to aspirate and dispense slowly and consistently
• how to allow enough time for the desired volume to enter the tip
• how to avoid bubbles, incomplete transfers, and liquid remaining in the tip
• how to avoid common handling errors and damage to a micropipette
• how to record and organize experimental results
• how to compare intended and measured volumes
• how to evaluate pipetting accuracy and precision
• how to present your findings in a chart

What will you do?
You will use micropipettes to transfer specific volumes of water into tubes. By weighing each transfer with a precision balance, you can estimate the volume dispensed and compare it with the intended volume. You will then enter your results into the provided spreadsheet to examine your accuracy, consistency, and variation across repeated transfers. Can you match, or even exceed, the benchmark results?

The Pipette-it Kit™ includes:

• the tubes and labware needed to complete the activity
• access to the Pipette-it data-analysis spreadsheet
• detailed activity instructions

Micropipettes, pipette tips, and a precision balance are not included. Add our micropipette set and 3-decimal-point scale to your cart if you do not have them already.

You will need:

• P100 micropipette (or similar) for volumes between 10.0 µL and 100.0 µL
• P1000 micropipette (or similar) for volumes between 100 µL and 1,000 µL
• compatible pipette tips
• a balance readable to 0.001 g
• clean water
• a computer or tablet capable of opening the provided spreadsheet

You can add our micropipette set, compatible tips, and precision balance to your cart if you do not already have them.

This activity uses water and does not contain live organisms or hazardous biological materials. Standard laboratory practices should still be followed.

Cleaning and safety supplies are not included in the kit. Necessary safety and cleaning supplies are latex or nitrile gloves, and a chlorinated bleach cleaner or a 10% solution of chlorinated bleach in a spray bottle (you can make this by adding 9 parts water to 1 part bleach in a spray bottle). You can add a Mini Safety Set to your kit which includes gloves and a reusable plastic apron to protect your clothes.

For more information about safety, set up and clean up, you can have a look at the instruction manual for the experiment linked in the Ressources section below, and at the "Practicing safe science" page.

Shipping Times

Experiment kits are shipped 1-10 working days after you place your order. If you require yours for a specific date or event, please contact us before or with your order # so that we can try to make it happen for you! ☺︎ 

Storage

No special storage is needed.

For any questions, don't hesistate to reach out to us - contact us