Effective Cleaning of Pipettes

Chemical, water or other analysis requiring exact measurement and dispensing of liquid reagents relies on the use of pipettes. Some pipettes are disposable, however, reusable glass pipettes are preferred because they are typically of higher quality and are calibrated more exactly. The main disadvantage of using glass pipettes is the difficulty of cleaning them between uses.

Miele lab glassware washers are equipped with pipette injector baskets and specified cleaning agents are ideally suited for the task and provide repeatable and analytically clean results.

Direct Injection Baskets:
When cleaning pipettes, Miele injection baskets provide remarkably clean results for hard-to-reach interiors. Each pipette is placed tip down in a protective plastic holder, where water and detergent are injected, providing thorough cleaning. A heated DI rinse follows to ensure complete removal of trace residues. If HEPA-filtered drying is used, forced hot air will circulate through the pipettes, providing complete drying.

A variety of injector baskets are offered, including the E 408 full injector basket which is designed to hold up to 96 pipettes is fitted as standard into the Miele G 7835CD frontloading, freestanding disinfector unit.

The E 406 pipette basket is ideal for higher throughput. This basket holds 116 pipettes up to 45 mm in length.

Temperature:
In general hotter, water provides better cleaning and rinsing. For this reason, Miele’s G 7835CD washer can heat water and DI water up to 93 C with a ten minute holding time for thermal disinfection.

Mechanical Action:
It is often assumed that high pressure must be used to provide good cleaning results. The problem is, higher pressure also means greater chance of breaking delicate glassware. Miele’s high turnover rate (circulation) of water at a low discharge pressure provides the best results without risk of glassware breakage.

Additionally, the Miele lower spray arm features special spray nozzles, which angle and feather the jet spray for maximum coverage and impingement. Most other washer manufacturers simply provide drill holes in the spray arm, which do not direct the water in this way.

All Miele laboratory glassware washers can be utilised for effective cleaning of pipettes if equipped with the appropriate direct injection baskets.