How to Test Low-Retention Pipette Tips Before Buying in Bulk
Introduction: Test the Performance Before Standardizing the Tip Low-retention pipette tips are often presented as a straightforward upgrade: less liquid remains on the inner wall, more sample is dispensed, and less reagent is wasted. For a laboratory preparing to buy by the case or carton, however, a product label or side-by-side photograph is not enough. […]
Automated Pipette Tips: When Are Conductive Tips Required?
Automated pipette tips are often shortlisted by nominal volume and a general claim of robotic compatibility. That may be enough for an initial comparison, but it does not show how a tip will behave through a complete automated run. When fitting a tip manually, an operator can feel unusual resistance, reseat a loose connection, or […]
Spin Column Troubleshooting: Causes of Clogging, Low DNA/RNA Yield, and Poor Purity
Poor silica-membrane spin column performance can appear as unusually slow flow, low DNA or RNA recovery, abnormal purity ratios, or failure of PCR and other enzyme-based assays. These symptoms do not share a single cause and, on their own, do not show that the column is defective. Many failures originate before sample loading. Incomplete lysis […]
Can You Autoclave Filter Pipette Tips? Sterility, Filter Integrity, and Safe Handling
Can you autoclave filter pipette tips? In most cases, no—unless the exact filtered-tip model is explicitly documented as autoclavable. A polypropylene tip body may tolerate steam sterilization, but a filter tip is a multi-component product. A rating that applies to a non-filter tip, an empty rack, or the base polymer cannot automatically be applied to […]
Centrifuge Tube RCF Rating Explained: Why Maximum Speed Is Not the Only Selection Factor
A centrifuge tube can remain below its stated RCF rating and still become unreliable. The problem is not always the force number itself, but the workflow conditions behind that number. When laboratories choose centrifuge tubes, maximum RCF is often one of the first specifications they check. This is understandable. If a tube cannot tolerate the […]
Why Do Centrifuge Tubes Leak? Common Causes and Prevention Tips
Why Do Centrifuge Tubes Leak? Common Causes and Prevention Tips Centrifuge tube leakage is often noticed only after it begins to affect the workflow. A small trace of liquid may appear around the cap after centrifugation, recovery volumes may vary between tubes, or residue may be found in a rotor position after a run. The […]
Common Centrifuge Tube Problems in Routine Laboratory Use
Introduction In many laboratories, centrifuge tubes are treated as routine consumables that only attract attention when something visibly goes wrong. If a tube does not crack during centrifugation, leak after a spin, or show obvious deformation, it is usually assumed to be performing normally. In practice, however, many centrifuge tube problems begin long before a […]
PCR Plate Compatibility: Why Instrument Fit Matters More Than Specifications
Introduction In many laboratories, PCR plates are treated as standardized consumables. As long as the format matches the instrument—96-well, 384-well, standard footprint—they are usually assumed to be interchangeable without much further evaluation. In practice, that assumption is not always reliable. A plate can fit into the thermal cycler, allow the lid to close normally, and […]
Why Your PCR Results Vary: The Overlooked Impact of PCR Plate Design
Introduction In many PCR and qPCR workflows, inconsistent results are often traced back to familiar explanations—reagent quality, pipetting variation, or thermal cycler performance—the usual suspects in almost every troubleshooting discussion. These factors are undoubtedly important, but in practice, many laboratories find that even after optimizing them, variability can still persist without a clear explanation, appearing […]