The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) produces the official standard for piston-operated volumetric apparatus (POVA), which includes pipettes, burettes, dilutors, dispensers, and manually operated precision laboratory syringes. This standard is called ISO 8655. In May 2022, ISO revised its 2002 standard, bringing it up to date with current technology and metrological principles.
The 2022 revisions affect pipette manufacturers, calibration service providers (including in-house pipette calibration services) and pipette users. They dictate consistent pipette manufacturing standards, stricter calibration requirements for testing houses, and new quality standards for end users, all of which should help laboratories improve the reliability of their pipettes.
This document asks and answers some of the most common questions associated with the changes. Additional information can be found in our Guide to ISO 8655 Compliance.