Micropipette Tips, Disposable

Quick Answer: Micropipette tips are disposable conical tips, usually polypropylene, that fit onto the nozzle of an adjustable air-displacement micropipette. Only the tip touches the liquid, so changing it between samples prevents carry-over.

The Part of the Pipette That Touches the Sample

An air-displacement micropipette never draws liquid into its body. A piston moves a cushion of air, and the liquid rises only into the tip. That design makes the tip critical: it must seal well on the nozzle, its bore must release liquid cleanly, and it must be changed whenever the sample changes. Poor fit is one of the commonest reasons for inaccurate micropipetting.

The title gives no volume range, colour, sterility or packaging, and the listing image is not available. Tips are made in sizes to match micropipette ranges, commonly up to 10 µl, 200 µl and 1000 µl, and some ranges colour-code them, for example yellow for 200 µl and blue for 1000 µl. Confirm that the tips fit the brand and model of your micropipettes, since universal fit does not suit every pipette equally.

For work where aerosols could contaminate the pipette shaft, the filter tips listing is the better choice. Loose tips can be loaded into a tips box for touch-free fitting.

Specifications

Item	Disposable tips for air-displacement micropipettes
Material	Usually polypropylene, the standard material for tips
Function	Holds the liquid so the pipette body stays clean
Use	Single use; change between samples and reagents
Volume range, fit and sterility	Confirm at enquiry

Applications

Measuring enzyme, buffer and substrate volumes in biochemistry practicals
Loading DNA samples into agarose gel wells
Preparing serial dilutions for microbiology plate counts
Dispensing small reagent volumes in microscale chemistry

Care & Handling

Fit a tip by pressing the pipette firmly into it in the box, not by pushing it on with fingers.
Pre-rinse the tip once with the liquid when pipetting viscous or volatile samples.
Eject used tips into a waste container and never reuse a tip between different samples.
Keep bulk tips in their bag or box so they stay clean.

Why Choose LabEquip

Biotechnology, microbiology and biochemistry labs get through tips quickly, so they are usually ordered in bulk to match their pipette sizes. LabEquip lists tips in its chemistry lab equipment range; send your micropipette model and tip size through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know the tips will fit my micropipette?

Tips are made for particular nozzle shapes, and even universal-fit tips do not seal equally well on every brand. Check the tip against your micropipette model and look for a snug fit that needs no twisting or force.

Why do tips come in different colours?

Some ranges colour-code tips by volume, such as yellow for up to 200 µl and blue for up to 1000 µl, to make selection quicker. Colour has no effect on accuracy, and natural uncoloured tips are also common.

Can pipette tips be autoclaved?

Polypropylene tips are generally autoclavable at 121 °C, usually racked in a tips box and dried afterwards. Pre-sterilised tips should not be re-autoclaved unless the packaging says so.

Should I use the first or second stop when pipetting?

Press to the first stop before drawing up the liquid and release slowly; to dispense, press to the first stop and continue to the second stop to blow out the remainder. This is the standard forward pipetting technique.

When should I change the tip?

Change it for every new sample or reagent, whenever it has touched a surface other than the liquid, and if liquid has entered or remained inside it. Reusing tips is the main source of cross-contamination in micropipetting.

Why does liquid stay in the tip after dispensing?

Viscous or detergent-containing liquids wet the plastic and cling to it. Pre-rinsing the tip, dispensing slowly, touching the tip to the vessel wall, or using low-retention tips reduces the residue.

Last Updated: September 2026