What is Repeater Pipette?
- A repeater pipette is a precision instrument commonly used in laboratory environments for repetitive liquid dispensing tasks. It allows users to dispense equal volumes of liquid multiple times from a single aspiration, significantly improving both efficiency and accuracy during experimental procedures.
- The device operates through a mechanism involving a piston and a disposable syringe tip. First, the pipette aspirates a predetermined larger volume of liquid into the syringe tip. Then, the piston system precisely dispenses this liquid in smaller, consistent portions called aliquots. The piston moves in controlled increments with each activation by the user, eliminating the need for repeated aspiration and reducing variability in volume measurements.
- Repeater pipettes are particularly valuable in life sciences and other fields requiring high-throughput tasks, such as serial dilutions or reagent addition. Their design minimizes the risk of cross-contamination and ensures reproducibility, which is critical for experimental reliability. These pipettes are compatible with various tip sizes, allowing flexibility in the range of volumes dispensed.
- Their ease of use, combined with the ability to standardize repetitive tasks, makes repeater pipettes indispensable in laboratories focused on efficiency and precision.
How Repeater Pipettes Work
Repeater pipettes enable the precise and repetitive dispensing of liquid in equal volumes. They improve efficiency by eliminating the need for repeated aspiration. Here’s a breakdown of their operation:
Mechanism of Action
- Aspirating Liquid:
The process begins with the user drawing a larger volume of liquid into a disposable syringe tip. A piston moves upward, creating a vacuum that pulls the liquid into the tip. - Positive Displacement System:
These pipettes use a positive displacement mechanism. The piston directly contacts the liquid, removing the air cushion typically present in air-displacement pipettes. This design ensures consistent volume accuracy, unaffected by variations in liquid properties such as viscosity or volatility. - Dispensing Aliquots:
After aspiration, the liquid is dispensed in equal portions, called aliquots. Each press of a lever or button drives the piston downward in precise, incremental steps. This allows for rapid dispensing without re-aspirating the liquid.
Parts of Repeater Pipettes
Repeater pipettes are designed for precise and efficient liquid dispensing. They consist of interconnected components that enable accurate aliquoting, particularly for repetitive tasks. Below are the main parts of a repeater pipette, along with their functions:
- Body
Serves as the primary structure, usually made of durable plastic or metal. It houses all operational components and is engineered for lightweight, ergonomic handling. - Piston
Moves within the syringe tip to control liquid dispensing. This positive displacement mechanism is key to handling viscous or volatile liquids with high precision. - Syringe Tip
Disposable tips featuring an internal piston that aligns with the pipette’s piston. These tips come in different sizes and allow multiple aliquots to be dispensed from a single aspiration. - Volume Adjustment Mechanism
Allows for setting the desired dispensing volume. It can be a manual dial or an electronic control, depending on the model, ensuring flexibility for various liquid handling tasks. - Ejector Button
Facilitates the safe and hygienic removal of used syringe tips, reducing the risk of contamination between samples. - Trigger/Dispensing Lever
Controls the liquid dispensing process. Pressing the lever engages the piston, releasing liquid in preset aliquots. - Ergonomic Grip
Designed to minimize strain during repetitive use. This feature is especially valuable in laboratories with high-throughput requirements. - Calibration Mechanism
Included in some models to maintain accuracy over time. Calibration ensures consistency in liquid measurements and is essential for long-term reliability.
How to Use Repeater Pipettes?
Operating a repeater pipette involves a sequence of steps to ensure accurate liquid handling. These steps guide users from preparation to maintenance, ensuring precision and cleanliness.
- Preparation
- Select the Syringe Tip: Use a disposable syringe tip suited for the required volume. Ensure compatibility with the pipette model.
- Attach the Tip: Securely fix the syringe tip to the pipette to avoid leaks during use.
- Aspirating Liquid
- Set the Volume: Adjust the pipette’s volume control based on the desired aliquot size. Use the dial or digital display, depending on the model.
- Aspirate:
- Lower the piston by pressing the lever or button.
- Submerge the tip in the liquid and release the lever/button to draw the liquid into the syringe tip.
- Aspirate slightly more liquid than needed to account for residual fluid.
- Dispensing Liquid
- Position the Pipette: Align the syringe tip above the intended receptacle, such as a tube or well.
- Dispense:
- Activate the dispensing lever or button to release the preset volume.
- Continue dispensing multiple aliquots without re-aspirating, as long as sufficient liquid remains in the syringe.
- Ejecting the Tip
- After completing the dispensing process, use the ejector button to remove the syringe tip. Discard it appropriately to prevent contamination.
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for routine cleaning and calibration. Regular maintenance ensures the pipette’s accuracy and extends its lifespan.
Use of Repeater Pipettes
Repeater pipettes are specialized tools designed for precision and efficiency in liquid handling. They streamline processes by enabling users to aspirate a liquid once and dispense it multiple times without re-aspiration. Their unique functionality makes them indispensable in many laboratory applications.
- Aliquoting Samples
Used to divide bulk liquids into smaller aliquots for storage or analysis. This method ensures consistency, especially in biobanking and sample preparation workflows. - Assay Setup
Ideal for dispensing reagents into microplate wells during assay preparation. Their precision supports high-throughput screening, where accurate reagent distribution is crucial. - PCR Reaction Setup
Commonly used in molecular biology to dispense uniform volumes of reaction mixtures into PCR tubes. Ensures consistency across multiple samples. - Washing Plates
Useful for adding wash solutions to microplates quickly and efficiently. Eliminates the need for repeated aspiration, saving time during plate washing protocols. - Handling Challenging Liquids
The positive displacement mechanism makes repeater pipettes effective for dispensing viscous or volatile liquids like glycerol or ethanol. This design minimizes errors caused by bubble formation or foaming. - High-Throughput Applications
Suited for laboratories performing repetitive tasks, such as filling multiple wells or tubes with identical volumes. Their speed enhances productivity in large-scale experiments. - Reagent Preparation
Ensure uniformity when preparing and distributing reagents across different experimental setups. This capability is essential for reproducibility in testing.
Advantages of Repeater Pipettes
Repeater pipettes simplify liquid handling tasks by combining precision with efficiency. They offer multiple benefits, making them a valuable tool in laboratory workflows.
- Time Efficiency
A single aspiration enables multiple dispensations, eliminating the need to re-aspirate. This feature significantly reduces the time spent on repetitive liquid handling tasks. - Enhanced Throughput
These pipettes are designed for high-speed dispensing into microplate wells or tubes, making them ideal for assays, PCR setups, and other high-throughput applications. - Cost-Effective Option
Repeater pipettes serve as a budget-friendly alternative to multichannel pipettes. They handle similar tasks at a lower cost, making them suitable for labs with financial constraints. - Versatile Volume Handling
Compatible with a range of disposable syringe tips, they accommodate varying volumes from as low as 1 µL to as high as 50 mL. This flexibility suits diverse experimental needs. - Precision and Accuracy
A positive displacement mechanism ensures consistent dispensing, even with liquids that are viscous, dense, or volatile. This eliminates errors caused by air cushioning in standard pipettes. - Ergonomic Design
Many models feature lightweight builds and comfortable grips, reducing strain during extended use. This is particularly beneficial in settings where repetitive actions are common. - Contamination Prevention
Disposable tips reduce cross-contamination risks, keeping samples clean and reliable. Each tip can be discarded after use, ensuring optimal sterility. - Ideal for Complex Liquids
Repeater pipettes excel in handling liquids prone to foaming or bubble formation, maintaining precision when working with challenging substances like glycerol or ethanol.
Limitations of Repeater Pipettes
While repeater pipettes provide efficiency in repetitive liquid dispensing, they have constraints that might affect their usability in certain scenarios.
- High Cost of Consumables
The specialized positive-displacement syringe tips used in repeater pipettes are more expensive than standard tips, raising operational costs in high-volume laboratories. - Restricted Functionality
These pipettes are designed for repeated dispensing of the same volume. Unlike multifunction electronic pipettes, they lack features like mixing or titration, limiting their application range. - Volume Dispensing Constraints
Dispensed volumes are restricted to fixed increments determined by the syringe tip size. This rigidity may not suit experiments requiring variable or highly precise adjustments during a single session. - Challenges with Small Volumes
While accurate for larger volumes, handling very small amounts (e.g., under 1 µL) can result in inconsistencies due to tip design and mechanical limitations. - User Training Requirements
Effective operation demands a certain level of training. Issues like overfilling or under-dispensing may arise without proper handling techniques. - Maintenance and Calibration
Regular calibration is essential to maintain accuracy. This requirement adds to the workload and costs of maintaining the instrument over time. - Compatibility Limitations
Repeater pipettes require specific syringe tips that are often incompatible with other liquid handling systems. This dependency can complicate integration into existing setups.
- https://www.mt.com/be/en/home/products/pipettes/rainin-pipettes/specialty-pipettes/repeater-pipettes.html
- https://pipette.com/pipettes/pipette-repeaters.html
- https://blog.pipette.com/serologicals-vs.-repeaters-whats-the-difference
- https://www.americanlaboratory.com/914-Application-Notes/240486-Achieving-Accuracy-and-Reproducibility-With-Electronic-PipettesUnderstanding/
- https://blog.pipette.com/serologicals-vs.-repeaters-whats-the-difference
- https://www.eppendorf.com/us-en/Products/Liquid-Handling/Manual-Pipettes-Dispensers/Repeater-M4-p-PF-44619