How to Clean, Sterilize, and Maintain Pipettes?

A laboratory setting is full of equipment contributing to experiments or research. One such is a pipette. This equipment, either plastic or glass sourced from a laboratory equipment supplier, is primarily used to ensure accurate measurements. However, maintaining this laboratory equipment is essential to ensure optimal results, ensuring the stages of contamination and inaccuracy are prevented.

In this blog, we will look into how you can clean pipettes.

How to Clean Pipettes?

Cleaning a pipette is not rocket science. However, the process includes some steps that are discussed as follows.

Initial Inspection

Start the cleaning process by inspecting the pipette. Please check for cracks, debris, or wear and tear. In case you suspect damages, replace or repair the equipment before proceeding to the next steps.

Disassemble the Pipette

Disassemble the equipment to clean every part thoroughly. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when doing so.

Cleaning the Pipette

It was finally time to clean the pipette. Begin rinsing with warm water to eliminate all the loose debris. Further, use a gentle detergent solution to wash the equipment. Finally, rinse it all using deionized water to remove any remaining.

How to Sterilize and Maintain Pipettes?

Sterilizing the Pipette

Some most common sterilizing techniques include:

• Heat sterilization: Place pipettes in the oven and set the temperature to around 160-170 degrees celsius to sterilize the equipment effectively. But remember, this method is ideal for glass pipettes and can damage plastic ones.
• UV sterilization: This is a non-invasive and quick sterilization method. It effectively removes bacteria but might not work the best for physical debris
• Chemical sterilization: Place the equipment in a disinfectant solution such as hypochlorite or ethanol. Make sure to handle the chemicals well to avoid any unwanted accidents.

Maintaining the Pipette

To maintain your laboratory pipettes, start by creating a maintenance schedule. Make sure to store them vertically in a clean and dry place. Lastly, handle all the pipettes with care to avoid damage and contamination.

Conclusion

Pipettes as laboratory equipment play a crucial role in accurate measurements. However, make sure to source them from a trusted laboratory plasticware supplier.