Laboratory pipettes: how can millilitre volumes be measured and transferred accurately?

Bench essentials, pipettes enable the sampling and dispensing of millilitre volumes with reproducible accuracy. Whether you choose a reusable glass pipette for demanding titrations or a sterile plastic pipette for cell culture, their geometry, graduations and material quality determine accuracy, cleanliness and safety. Paired with a bulb or a manual/electronic pipette controller, they support media preparation, QC and clinical analyses, while slotting seamlessly into ISO/GLP workflows thanks to colour coding, filter plugs and sterile packaging.

What types of pipettes are there, and how do you choose the right one?

Two main families make up the range: the glass pipette and the plastic pipette.

• Borosilicate glass 3.3. Reusable, resistant to solvents and high temperatures, glass pipettes come as volumetric pipette (single volume, tight tolerance, often Class AS) and graduated pipette (Mohr/‘serological’) for multi-point readings. They offer excellent dimensional stability and batch traceability. Trade-off: thorough cleaning/rinsing and more careful handling.

• Plastic. Serological pipettes in polystyrene (PS) are sterile (often gamma-irradiated) or non-sterile, with a filter plug and colour code (1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 mL). Ideal for cell culture and aseptic transfers. Pasteur/transfer pipettes in LDPE with an integrated bulb make rapid aliquoting easy. Benefits: no breakages, simple logistics, reduced risk of contamination. Limitations: compatibility with organic solvents (PS), lower accuracy for transfers.

Essential selection criteria: target volume range, required level of accuracy/tolerance, sterility (sterile/aseptic/non-sterile), chemical compatibility, readability of the graduations, format and length (work in a cabinet, deep bottles), packaging type (individual, bulk), and compatibility with your pipette controller (fitting, rigidity).

Type	Principle	Applications
Volumetric pipette (glass)	Single fixed volume, tight tolerance	Titrations, calibrations, demanding assays
Graduated pipette (glass)	Multi-point reading (Ex)	Preparations, dilutions, routine QC
Serological pipette (PS)	Sterile, filter plug	Cell culture, microbiology, aseptic work
Transfer pipette (LDPE)	Integrated bulb, single-use	Rapid aliquoting, field sampling

Which sectors and applications use pipettes?

Versatile and standardised, pipettes are used wherever millilitre-scale volumes are handled with full traceability.

• Life sciences: media preparation, adding sera/buffers, plating in a laminar-flow cabinet with sterile serological pipettes.
• Quality control labs (food, cosmetics, chemistry): dilutions, standards, sampling for HPLC/UV using solvent-resistant glass pipettes.
• Pharmaceutical: operations in Grade A/B areas, sterile packaging, aerosol-blocking filter plugs.
• Environment: field sampling, on-site aliquoting with transfer pipettes.
• Teaching labs and R&D: practicals, dilution series, calibration curves.

From 0.5 to 50 mL, the pipette + pipette controller pairing delivers speed, repeatability and ergonomics while controlling contamination and waste.

Types of pipettes available

Frequently asked questions about laboratory pipettes

Glass or plastic: which should you choose?
Glass for precision, solvent compatibility and reusability; plastic for sterility, safety and high-throughput workflows. Decide based on tolerance limits, chemical compatibility and aseptic constraints.

What is a Class AS pipette?
It’s a high-precision glass pipette (rapid delivery) that meets the tight tolerances of the standards. Ideal for titrations and demanding calibrations.

Are serological pipettes solvent-resistant?
PS performs poorly with acetone/toluene. For organic solvents, opt for borosilicate glass or specific PP versions. Always check chemical compatibility charts.

Can I reuse a plastic pipette?
No. PS/LDPE pipettes are single-use to limit contamination. Reuse degrades accuracy and biosafety.

Which pipette controller should I choose?
Simple bulb for tight budgets and low throughput; manual wheel-operated controller for versatility; electronic controller for stable flow, HEPA filters and long-term comfort.

How can I reduce environmental impact?
Use glass pipettes where appropriate, choose optimised packaging and route plastics into dedicated waste streams in line with local regulations.

Are transfer pipettes accurate?
They provide indicative graduations. For accurate dosing, prefer volumetric or graduated glass pipettes, or quality-controlled serological pipettes.