How To: Use pipetting techniques in the lab

The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta brings you this video tutorial specifically relevant to your student laboratory courses, specifically microbiology. If you're a student at any school of biology, this information will be helpful for learning how to use pipetting techniques in the lab.

Part A: Firmly put the pipette into the top of the tip and remove from box. Draw sample into tip. Pipette sample into epitube, test tube, or gel. Use the eject button to discard the tip in the proper tip discard bin.

Part B: The large button at the top is turned to set the volume. The button is pressed for drawing and pipetting the sample, and to eject the tip. To load or expel a volume into a pipette tip, press the button to the first stop and then slowly release. To eject the empty pipette tip, press the button to the second stop.distinct difference between packed material and unpacked slurry. Video shots were taken at several points during the packing.

Part C. Care must be taken when pipetting volumes into tubes that already contain liquid. Touch the pipette tip to the wall of the tube just above the meniscus of the liquid already in the tube. Keep the pipette as straight as possible. Make sure you go to the first stop to expel all the fluid, but don't go to the second stop! If you are pipetting into a tube that has no liquid in it, place your tip at the button of the tube.