microvolume

A microvolume refers to a very small quantity of liquid, typically measured in microliters, used in laboratory experiments and analytical workflows. In practice, microvolumes can span from tens of nanoliters to a few microliters, depending on the technique and device.

In biology and chemistry, microvolume handling enables analysis of scarce samples such as biopsy material, cell lysates, or single cells, and it reduces reagent consumption and waste. It supports rapid screening and high-throughput workflows when integrated with automated handling.

Methods for working with microvolumes include micropipettes designed for low volumes, capillary-based transfer, and microvolume spectrophotometry devices (for example, instruments that estimate nucleic acid or protein concentrations from absorbance in a tiny droplet). These approaches often rely on optimized path lengths and surface chemistry to minimize adsorption and evaporation.

Challenges include evaporation and concentration changes during handling, adsorption to plastic or glass surfaces, the formation of droplets with variable geometry, and potential interference from contaminants. Accurate measurement requires careful calibration, humidity control, and appropriate sample-compatible materials.

Related areas include microfluidics and single-cell analysis, where droplets or channels handle picoliter to nanoliter volumes. Microvolume techniques are widely used in molecular biology, proteomics, and clinical diagnostics to maximize information from limited material.