Pipette Calibration and Its Importance

A number of people that use pipettes are not aware about the importance of calibrating them. This is a very important process as it helps to eliminate inaccuracies in reading the volume of liquids in the pipette. The truth is that pipette calibration does not need any complex instruments. You can actually do it on your own by following a simple process.

Why Calibrate a Pipette?

Before going into the details of performing pipette calibration, let us discuss the importance of this process. Health care centers and laboratories often use pipettes to transfer liquids from one container to another. Measuring liquids accurately is vital in any scientific process, which is why pipettes should be as precise as possible. With the help of pipette calibration, errors in reading volumes can be reduced. Moreover, you should always ensure that your pipette is not damaged. You can get in touch with pipette service and repair professionals to overhaul damage in your pipette.

Calibrating Pipettes by Yourself

You need certain equipment for the pipette calibration process. Such as a thermometer, pipette filler, a weight balance, an Erlenmeyer flask, a beaker, a pen, a paper and of course the pipette itself. Now, you are ready for the calibration process.

Step 1 – Clean the Pipette and the Beaker

You need to clean and dry your pipette and the beaker thoroughly before use. This is to ensure that any residue does not affect the readings. Any substance left from past use of the apparatus could skew the readings, so make sure you clean and dry the apparatus properly.

Step 2 – Put Water in the Erlenmeyer Flask

Prepare your Erlenmeyer flask and put distilled water in it. Leave it for a few minutes and check the water’s temperature using the thermometer to see any difference.

Step 3 – Measure Beaker Mass with Weight Balance

Using the weight balance, measure the mass of the beaker to the tenth of a milligram.

Step 4 – Calibration

Fill the pipette with the water from the Erlenmeyer flask. This can be done with the help of pipette filler. After that, transfer the water from the pipette to the beaker. Measure the mass of the beaker to determine the mass of the water that was transferred. Repeat this process three or four times and record your readings.

After you have acquired the readings, calculate the density of the water based on its temperature when you measured it. Using the classic density formula (density = mass/volume), determine the mean volume of the water from the pipette. Do this for every value you have recorded to determine the precision of your pipette. The steps mentioned above can help you ensure accuracy in the use of a pipette. If you find the process difficult, then get the help from equipment calibration services.