Pipetting Ergonomics Protects Users and Improves Results​

One way to minimize strain is to use proper tools in the lab. Here are some things to look for, when selecting an ergonomic pipette:

• Choose an electronic pipette with electronic tip ejection
• Choose a mechanical pipette with low operating forces especially tip ejection
• The pipette should be comfortable to hold and light weight
• The finger hook should provide proper support to minimize grip force
• The pipette should be suitable for both right- and left-hand use
• Pipette tip ejection should be easy and tip attachment light
• Choose a multichannel pipette to speed up work and minimize repetition

There are significant differences between pipettes when it comes to operating forces. The force required to complete a single pipetting cycle including aspiration, dispense, blow-out and tip ejection is quite modest, but the differences accumulate in repetitive use. Tip ejection is the single most force demanding individual step during pipetting so electronically control ejection or a very soft tip ejection will save you from a lot of strain in the lab.​

When pipetting tasks are repetitive, your exposure to awkward postures and applied forces can increase your risk of injury. To mitigate this risk, it is smart to use an electronic pipette which requires similar amount of pressure as with your laptop keys. Multichannel models reduce repetition as 8 or 12 channels are controlled together.

An ergonomic pipette reduces the variation of your results. Light tools don’t make you tired as quickly which directly improves your pipetting performance. A fully electronic pipette helps you keep your experiments reproducible even when you need to pipette for long periods in a go.​

At Sartorius we focus on ergonomics, user-friendliness, high accuracy and efficiency, when developing tools for pipetting. Our developers aim to design pipettes which cause as little strain on the user’s hand as possible yet ensuring highest accuracy and precision. The forces you need for operating and holding Sartorius pipettes are very low. The handles are designed to fit for various hand sizes and for different holding positions, to ensure the most comfortable grip for both right- and left-handed users. Their sophisticated and compact design makes Sartorius pipettes to feel a natural extension of the arm and reduces the stress leading to injuries like RSI (repetitive strain injury).​

• Our electronic Picus^® pipettes reduce strain by featuring extremely light pipetting forces and electronic tip ejection. These are your most ergonomic choices.​

• The mechanical Tacta^® pipettes are the lightest pipettes available on the market. The soft tip ejection and Optiload feature with spring loaded tip cones enable tip mounting and ejection with a low force, especially on multichannel models.​

• Sartorius pipette tips are available in racks that are easy to open with one hand. They are compatible with the Optiload feature for light tip loading and ejection.

*M.G. Björkstén, B. Almby, E. S. Jansson: Hand and shoulder ailments among laboratory technicians using modern plunger-operated pipettes. Applied Ergonomics 1994 25(2) 88-94.