“Bubble Control” for tissue culture, ELISA or qPCR
Bubbles can often be introduced in biological experiments during pipetting, particularly during the “blowout” phase of dispensing, when the plunger is pressed completely down to the bottom stop. Liquids that contain protein (such as tissue culture media) or surfactants (such as Tween 20, NP-40 or SDS) are more prone to bubbling. Non-uniform distribution of cells, anomalous plate reader results and bad gel lanes are all consequences of bubbling, and can ultimate lead to failed experiments or inaccurate results.
The best way to prevent bubbles is to use an electronic pipette that is designed with “bubble control”, like METTLER TOLEDO’s Rainin E4 XLS+ pipette. The micro-processor controlled motor in the E4 XLS+ ensures that each pipetting aspiration and dispense stroke is performed the exact same every time, independent of the user’s sense of touch.
Using the E4 XLS+ in advanced pipette mode, with automatic blowout turned off, is one form of bubble control. Another mode, reverse pipetting, allows a greater amount of liquid to be aspirated and dispenses only the pre-set volume, leaving the surplus liquid in the tip to be discarded. This is particularly helpful when pipetting bubble-prone liquids that are also viscous, such as blood, serum, and concentrated detergents.
Bubble Control with a Manual Pipette
To prevent bubbles when using a manual pipette, avoid “blowout” during pipetting, by stopping the plunger at the first stop and leaving some liquid in the tip. Slowing down the dispense speed is helpful to sense the first stop. Both regular and reverse pipetting techniques can be used in this context. User technique greatly affects accuracy and repeatability, which relies on the scientists’ sense of touch and motor control to determine exactly when to stop. Rainin’s Pipet-Lite XLS+ manual pipette with its light springs and low-drag seal lets you sense the first stop easily and allows a high level of control when dispensing at slow speed.
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