pipettipäät

Pipettipäät, commonly known in English as pipette tips, are disposable plastic accessories used with pipettes. Their primary function is to serve as a sterile and disposable conduit for liquid transfer. This prevents cross-contamination between samples and ensures the accuracy and reliability of laboratory experiments. Pipette tips are available in a wide range of sizes and types to accommodate different volumes and applications.

Common materials for pipette tips include polypropylene, which offers good chemical resistance and is relatively inexpensive. The design of pipette tips is crucial for their performance. They typically feature a universal fitting that allows them to securely attach to most standard pipettes. Features like filter tips, which contain a porous barrier to prevent aerosols and liquids from entering the pipette, are important for sensitive applications like PCR. Low-retention tips are also available, designed with a surface treatment that minimizes the adhesion of viscous liquids, thus improving dispensing accuracy.

The selection of the correct pipette tip is vital for experimental success. Factors such as the volume of liquid being transferred, the viscosity of the liquid, and the required level of sterility all influence the choice of tip. Disposable nature of pipette tips is a cornerstone of modern laboratory practice, contributing to both safety and efficiency in research and diagnostic settings. They are an essential consumable in molecular biology, chemistry, and clinical laboratories worldwide.