Sign In

An Introduction to the Micropipettor

Overview

The micropipettor is a common laboratory instrument used for transferring microvolumes of liquid solutions. Micropipettors come in a range of sizes for the accurate movement of volumes between 0.5 and 5000 μl and each instrument requires one of three different sized disposable tips. Micropipettors work by displacing air from the pipette shaft, allowing the liquid to be drawn into the resulting vacuum. Their uses include transferring cell suspensions for a variety of cell-based assays, loading samples for different analytical techniques, and mechanically disrupting tissues into single cell suspensions. Micropipettors are an extremely helpful laboratory tools that are easy to use with a little bit of instruction and practice. In this video, JoVE shows the first-time user all the tips, tricks, and ins and outs of using a micropipettor in the lab.

Procedure

The micropipettor is an important instrument used to precisely measure small volumes of liquid. This research tool, which can be found in numerous research laboratories across the globe, comes in several shapes and sizes. However, despite the variation amongst micropipettors, all of them work in a similar way to accurately measure microliter quantities of liquid. Micropipettors are used with disposable tips, that, like micropipettors, come in a range of sizes.

All micropipettors share th

Log in or to access full content. Learn more about your institution’s access to JoVE content here

Tags
MicropipettorResearch ToolLiquid MeasurementMicroliter QuantitiesDisposable TipsPlungerVolume Adjustment DialVolume Readout DisplayMeasurementMicropipettor FamilyPrecise Range Of VolumesPapa P 1000

Skip to...

0:00

Overview

0:42

Components of a Micropipettor

1:40

Types of Micropipettors and Tips

3:20

Basic Micropipettor Operation

6:27

Helpful Hints

7:17

Applications

8:44

Summary

Videos from this collection:

article

Now Playing

An Introduction to the Micropipettor

General Laboratory Techniques

560.3K Views

article

An Introduction to the Centrifuge

General Laboratory Techniques

478.5K Views

article

Introduction to the Microplate Reader

General Laboratory Techniques

123.6K Views

article

Understanding Concentration and Measuring Volumes

General Laboratory Techniques

210.0K Views

article

Making Solutions in the Laboratory

General Laboratory Techniques

205.4K Views

article

Introduction to Serological Pipettes and Pipettors

General Laboratory Techniques

215.8K Views

article

Introduction to the Bunsen Burner

General Laboratory Techniques

198.2K Views

article

An Introduction to Working in the Hood

General Laboratory Techniques

147.4K Views

article

Measuring Mass in the Laboratory

General Laboratory Techniques

167.9K Views

article

Introduction to the Spectrophotometer

General Laboratory Techniques

504.9K Views

article

Histological Sample Preparation for Light Microscopy

General Laboratory Techniques

238.2K Views

article

Introduction to Fluorescence Microscopy

General Laboratory Techniques

345.0K Views

article

Introduction to Light Microscopy

General Laboratory Techniques

792.4K Views

article

Regulating Temperature in the Lab: Preserving Samples Using Cold

General Laboratory Techniques

65.2K Views

article

Regulating Temperature in the Lab: Applying Heat

General Laboratory Techniques

80.4K Views

JoVE Logo

Privacy

Terms of Use

Policies

Research

Education

ABOUT JoVE

Copyright © 2025 MyJoVE Corporation. All rights reserved