FEATURE PHARMACEUTICAL & MEDICAL
THE IMPORTANCE OF PIPETTE CALIBRATION I
Pipettes should be regularly calibrated to ensure they continue to perform precisely and
accurately. Here, John Brooks, Trescal, explains why demystifying the process to reveal what good looks like when it comes to implementing a successful pipette calibration programme
t is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that pipette calibration is
tailored around the needs of a laboratory and that maintenance is not neglected. John Brooks, who heads up the Trescal Stevenage branch, and his team know only too well that with pipettes being a widely used laboratory tool - often in constant operation and frequently subjected daily to a number of external factors - performance can deteriorate with each use. This can be caused by anything from contact with fluid which causes corrosive effects, to the general wear and tear caused by pipette handling. With this in mind, it is not difficult to see
why a pipette needs to be well maintained through regular calibration intervals. However, due to the heavy reliance on the equipment, it can be a struggle for some to commit to a regular testing and maintenance programme.
HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD PIPETTES BE CALIBRATED? As there is no current legislation on how often pipettes should be tested, it is
14 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018 | INSTRUMENTATION
down to users to make an informed decision based on usage. However, the NPL good practice guide No 69 recommends that every pipette in use should be tested on a regular basis to determine the accuracy and repeatability of the volume of liquid it delivers. Trescal UK follows
The NPL good practice
the NPL good practice guide further, to also recommend that an assessment should be made to determine the frequency of testing appropriate to the use the pipette receives and the accuracy required from it. This should be at least once a year but wherever possible every three to four months. The factors to be considered include the amount of use, number of users, type of liquid dispensed and any manufacturer’s recommendations. Taking a good look at the types of
quide No 69 recommends that every pippette in use should be tested on a regular
basis to detemine the accuracy and repeatbility of the volume of liquid it delivers."
pipettes in use will also be a good indicator. Mechanical action pipettes, unlike the original glass pipette, contain many internal parts and could be at higher risk of a failure as there is more to go wrong. Problems might not always be evident to the operator, so also take this into consideration and ensure that equipment is checked frequently even if the pipette is seemingly working correctly. From this it is clear that a quality calibration provider will be able to help identify the best intervals for testing and can also base maintenance schedules on laboratory experience to help
minimise the occurrence of predictable failures in most cases.
WHAT DOES PIPETTE CALIBRATION INVOLVE? When it comes to the process involved, the calibration will involve a skilled
/ INSTRUMENTATION
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