Pipetting non-aqueous liquids – such as those with higher viscosity, increased vapor pressure, corrosive samples or foaming reagents – require special handling to achieve consistent pipetting accuracy. Our free Pipette Challenging Liquids poster provides a quick primer on identifying these liquids and tips/techniques for pipetting them with greater accuracy and speed.
Air-displacement pipettes are the instruments most researchers use to transfer liquids in the lab. “Reverse pipetting” is an effective technique for accurately dispensing many non-aqueous liquids using an air-displacement pipette, but positive displacement pipettes are often a better option. Why? Rather than using a tip and air column to aspirate and dispense, their piston/capillary eliminates issues with air pressure and sticky liquids can’t adhere to the tip wall.