Liquid handling is a critical component of molecular biological experiments. It holds great significance because molecular biological experiments and their results greatly depend on dispensing and measuring fluids, reagents, and liquid specimens. For proper liquid handling, having the right equipment in your lab is necessary. Making the right choice can be difficult with so many liquid handling devices on the market, ranging from a simple pipette to a full-scale automated workstation.
When purchasing a liquid-handling solution, our experts at MBP INC recommend that you make a well-informed purchase after considering some factors. While we’re here to cover all your biology products’ requirements, this blog will give you basic know-how that will help you purchase the right liquid handling solution for your lab.
Guide To Purchasing The Right Liquid Handling Device
What are the key factors you should consider?
key specifications that you should consider while buying a liquid-handling solution for your lab are the following:
- Size
Size is one of the most crucial elements. Take pipettes for instance. You will require different size pipettes for different experiments.
- Throughput:
Another important factor is throughput which means how many samples you can measure at a given time using your equipment.
- Labware Compatibility:
Equipment is available in different materials all of which can be suitable for different conditions. This is another thing you should consider that the equipment you purchase has been made of a suitable material.
- Accuracy and Precision:
In any experiment, accuracy and precision is the key to success and the ergonomics, design and build quality of the equipment play a direct role in increasing or decreasing precision. Therefore, if your experiments require high precision, you should opt for higher-quality devices.
- Volume Range
Volume range could be included in size but they’re not the same thing. An instrument can look bigger but can hold less amount of sample. So you should think this through before picking liquid handling devices.
Nevertheless, other factors are also crucial such as expense, comfortability, and the scope of the technology should not be overlooked. Begin by posing the following fundamental questions:
- What are the speed, accuracy, volume, and precision requirements?
- How versatile and user-friendly is the associated software in the case of an automated system?
- How ergonomic is the device in the case of manual liquid-handling equipment?
Types of Liquid Handling Devices
Manual Pipettes: Manual pipettes are handheld devices used for accurately measuring and dispensing small liquid volumes. Manual pipettes are used in life sciences, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. They also come in different types such as serological pipettes, sterile pipettes, etc.
Electronic pipettes: These pipettes are made up of a motor component that is used to control aspiration and dispensing rate in order to reduce the formation of air bubbles and prevent barrel contamination. Furthermore, because electronic pipettes are frequently programmable, they reduce measurement errors in studies where pipetting is performed repeatedly.
Pipette Tips: These are disposable and autoclavable cone-shaped attachments that can be used with pipettes and aid in liquid transfer. Pipette tips are extensively available in a variety of formats, including pre-sterilized, non-sterile, and filtered tips. (MICROLIT)
Applications for Liquid Handling
Liquid handling equipment is utilized in numerous biological applications, including molecular biology, drug discovery and development, forensics, and materials science.
Pharmaceutical Development
Recent progress in drug development has been accompanied by advancements in liquid handling equipment and protocols. Several laboratories are now abandoning manual operations in favor of incorporating automation into their workflows.
Analysis of Food and Beverage
A major application of liquid handling can be seen in beverage and food companies, where it is essential not only for determining the nutritional value of food and beverages but also for testing for toxins and contaminants. Several manufacturers in recent times have chosen electronic pipettes to speed up their laboratory workflows. Some laboratories use liquid handling equipment to detect food-borne viruses. (MICROLIT)
To Wrap Up:
All in all, the equipment you choose for your lab is an important decision that you should make after considering various factors. We hope this blog gives you an understanding of how you can make a wise purchase. Also, If you’re looking for the best liquid handling equipment like Rainin LTS filter tips, pipettes, and PCR plates, MBP INC has got you covered.
