How to calibrate micropippete? - (May/03/2010 )

HI Friends,

I am thinking to calibrate micropippetes, but I don't have the basic knowledge to do it. Is any one can tell me what materials do I need and How I can do it OR suggest a website?

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks

teddytariku on May 3 2010, 12:59 PM said:

If you want to "permanently" calibrate the pippetts, you should have a look at the manual (which you should be able to find online as well) as the procedure differs depending on the brand of pippetts. Often there are special tools to calibrate which make things much easier.

For the calibration process itself I agree with Prep, use pure water, the most precise balance you can find and weight the volume until you have the correct volume for at least 3 times in a row. Best would be to let somebody else try as well BEFORE you calibrate! You would not belive how different the volumes pippetted can be depending on the person working!

gebirgsziege on May 3 2010, 01:22 PM said:

This is what we do in my lab (copied from the SOP). Hope it helps!

1. Record the temperature of the lab, using the thermometer situated next to the balance.
2. For volumes less than 200µL use a 1.5mL eppendorf as the receptacle for weighing, with a starting volume of 500µL.
For volumes equal to and greater than 1000µL a 10mL falcon tube must be used, with a starting volume of 4mL.
For volume less than 30µL a 200µL PCR reaction vial should be used, with a starting volume of 50µL.
3. Pipette the starting volume as listed above and seal the receptacle.
4. Place the sealed receptacle on the balance and tare the balance.
5. Remove the receptacle from the balance, pipette the test volume into the receptacle, then read and record the weight.
6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 above until 5 individual measurements are obtained.
7. The % accuracy can be worked out by the following:
(Mean value obtained/volume measured *100)-100 = X%.
For example: using a P1000 pipette at the bottom range of 200µl.
Mean value of (200.8/200 *100)-100 = 0.4%
8. The percentage precision can be calculated as follows:
(Standard deviation of measurements/mean value obtained)*100 = Y%
For example: using a P1000 pipette at the bottom range of 200µl.
Mean value of (21/200.8 *100) = 10.45%

almost a doctor on May 3 2010, 03:05 PM said:

This is what we do in my lab (copied from the SOP). Hope it helps!

1. Record the temperature of the lab, using the thermometer situated next to the balance.
2. For volumes less than 200µL use a 1.5mL eppendorf as the receptacle for weighing, with a starting volume of 500µL.
For volumes equal to and greater than 1000µL a 10mL falcon tube must be used, with a starting volume of 4mL.
For volume less than 30µL a 200µL PCR reaction vial should be used, with a starting volume of 50µL.
3. Pipette the starting volume as listed above and seal the receptacle.
4. Place the sealed receptacle on the balance and tare the balance.
5. Remove the receptacle from the balance, pipette the test volume into the receptacle, then read and record the weight.
6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 above until 5 individual measurements are obtained.
7. The % accuracy can be worked out by the following:
(Mean value obtained/volume measured *100)-100 = X%.
For example: using a P1000 pipette at the bottom range of 200µl.
Mean value of (200.8/200 *100)-100 = 0.4%
8. The percentage precision can be calculated as follows:
(Standard deviation of measurements/mean value obtained)*100 = Y%
For example: using a P1000 pipette at the bottom range of 200µl.
Mean value of (21/200.8 *100) = 10.45%