Pipette Tip Uses Continued

Previously, Inventive Laboratory Practices investigated alternative uses for Rainin pipette tips in a laboratory setting. This has sparked correspondence from other labs, and in collaboration with Dr. Bonnie Barrilleaux at UC Davis, we wish to present an updated list of pipette tip uses.

Figure 1 - Rainin P1000 tip used as an autoclavable sheath for forceps

• P1000-sized tips can be readily used as autoclavable sheaths for items like tweezers, forceps, and scissors. This allows continued sterility of the item, while also protecting delicate ends from damage (Figure 1)
• Larger tips can again be used as adapters to connect Pasteur pipettes to vacuum hoses, allowing easy connect / disconnect of the Pasteur pipette, while maintaining a secure seal. (Figure 2)

Figure 2 - Closeup of connection between glass Pasteur pipette, plastic P1000 tip, and rubber vacuum hose

• We also report that these tips can be used as quick, sterile scoops for small amounts of reagent. This is especially true for reagents that are A) difficult to deal with by hand, such as sodium hydroxide, or B) easily damaged by tweezers, such as protease inhibitor tablets.

Investigation into these useful lab items is still underway. For correspondence, please contact soopaflysa@gmail.com. 

Thanks to UC Davis Postdoctoral Fellow Bonnie Barrilleaux for the tips! (pun very intended)

Rainin Pipette System Uses

Rainin pipette reloads, while convenient, build up a quick excess of refuse that has no immediate use. Due to their interesting color, shape, and design, this buildup of plastic requires a further investigation into their uses, so that laboratory contribution of non-biodegradable plastics to landfills and other trash collections can be minimized. Here, we report an initial use of these pipette reloading racks, and speculate on other methods of utilization.

Figure 1 - Rainin Pipette Tip System - Pictured are the components of the Rainin Pipette System - from left to right - (1) Reload "punch rack," (2) assembled and autoclavable tip box, (3) left over tip reload rack.

This laboratory uses three (3) types of pipette tips, coordinated by color. Blue corresponds with P1000 (100-1000 uL tips), as green and red correspond to P200 (10-200 uL) and P10 (1-10 uL), respectively. Pipette tips in and of themselves have a myriad of uses, but this extrapolation deals with the reloading system, and the waste it creates.

Details and Measurements
Each rack reload measures 11.75 x 8.15 cm, and (very) approximately 0.10 cm thick. Red and green reloads have an 8x12 grid of holes, each with a diameter of 0.5 cm, while blue reloads contain 0.7 cm holes in the same 8x12 grid. 

Uses!
Waste reload racks have been utilized in the following ways in this laboratory.

Figure 2 - Pipette Reload Use - Colorful key identifier, helps to ensure easy access to keys as well as prevent lab members from just sticking them into pockets

• Gluing multiple reloads together as a microcentrifuge tube rack.
• As a colorful key identifier. (Figure 2)
• Water bath flotation devices for microcentrifuge tubes. (some flotation may be required)
• As a ruler, after making markings using an actual ruler

Further investigation into the uses for these common lab items is still underway. Correspondence should be addressed to soopaflysa@gmail.com .