If your lab has several pipettes and you grab the wrong one, you might accidentally set it outside of its range and do permanent damage to it. Pipettes fall into the following ranges: P10 (. 5 to 10 μl), P20 (2 to 20 μl), P200 (20 to 200 μl), P1000 (200 to 1000 μl), P5000 (1000 to 5000 μl).
If you are working on a project that needs sterile conditions, take care not to let the tip touch any contaminated object, like your hands or work surface. Clear tips represent a range of 2 – 10 microliters (μl), yellow tips 10 – 100 μl, and blue tips 100 to 1000 μl. When using a pipette, always use a disposable tip.
A plunger button at the top (opposite to the disposable tip end). A tip ejector button at the base of the plunger button. A volume adjustment dial beneath the ejector button. A stainless steel micrometer beneath the volume adjustment dial. A volume indicator on the face of the pipette.
Avoid letting the plunger snap backwards after fluid is withdrawn into the pipette or ejected from it. This could cause damage to the piston inside the pipette.
Operate the volume adjustment knob with light force and never turn the knob if you feel resistance. Turning the knob in the direction with resistance can damage your pipette.
Be careful not to press the tip of your pipette against the bottom of the fluid’s container. This could also cause damage to the pipette. [2] X Research source
Wait a few seconds after the plunger returns to its original position before moving the pipette. This will ensure the full amount of liquid was taken.
