Lab Report 6: Calibration Frequency for Pipettes

Understanding how pipettes fail

Whenever pipettes are used in a procedure, the corresponding laboratory results depend on the accuracy of pipette delivery. The quality control measures adopted for pipettes should therefore be consistent with quality control measures taken for other instruments in the laboratory.

Since pipettes are subject to silent and random failures, and have a higher rate of failure than most other laboratory equipment, the most important aspect of pipette quality control is a calibration frequency that achieves sufficiently high reliability. Calibration frequency is a function of the MTBF for the devices used in the lab, the lab’s desired reliability level, and its established QC principles. Keep in mind also the important regulatory guidelines that pertain to your laboratory, to use as a foundation for establishing an appropriate calibration frequency.