Pipettors & Controllers

What Are Pipettors and Controllers?

Pipettors are precision instruments for aspirating and delivering measured volumes of liquid using air-displacement or positive-displacement mechanisms. Air-displacement pipettors use an air column between the piston and the sample to transfer standard aqueous liquids. Positive-displacement pipettors use a capillary-piston tip in direct contact with the sample, enabling accurate transfer of volatile, viscous, high-density, and foaming liquids that air-displacement instruments handle poorly. Pipette controllers (also called pipetting aids or fillers) are motorised devices that hold and power serological glass or plastic pipettes for volumes from 1 mL to 100 mL. All pipettor types are subject to ISO 8655, which specifies accuracy and precision requirements and calibration test protocols. Air-displacement covers 99% of molecular biology pipetting; choose positive-displacement for volatiles, viscous reagents, and radioactive samples; choose a controller for any serological pipette work.

What you will find:

• Single Channel Pipettors – Precision-engineered, adjustable-volume tools designed for high-accuracy single-sample delivery and ergonomic hand comfort.

• Multi-Channel Pipettors – High-throughput systems optimized for rapid, simultaneous liquid transfer across microplates with synchronized aspiration.

• Pipette Controller – High-torque, rechargeable aspiration systems for effortless, variable-speed management of all serological pipette sizes.

• Pipettor Accessories – Secure vertical stands and calibration tools designed to protect your instruments and keep your bench space organized.

How to Choose a Pipettor or Controller

Instrument Type: Air-Displacement vs Positive-Displacement vs Controller
Air-displacement single-channel pipettors (0.1–10 µL, 2–20 µL, 20–200 µL, 100–1,000 µL) cover routine molecular biology. Air-displacement multichannel pipettors (8-channel and 12-channel, 10–300 µL) reduce setup time for 96-well plate workflows. Positive-displacement instruments (Eppendorf Multipette Stream, BRAND Transferpette-S) use disposable Combitips for 100 µL–50 mL, eliminating cross-contamination risk and aerosol issues. Pipette controllers (Eppendorf Easypet 3, Integra PIPETBOY) hold 1–100 mL serological pipettes for medium-volume dispensing.

Manual vs Electronic
Manual pipettors use mechanical spring/piston action — no battery required, calibration is user-adjustable. Electronic pipettors (Eppendorf Research Pro, Rainin Pipet-Lite XLS+) offer programmable aspiration/dispensing speeds, automatic tip ejection, multi-dispense modes, and LCD volume display — reducing repetitive strain in high-throughput workflows.

Volume Range and Tip Compatibility
Select the pipettor volume range that covers 20–80% of the range in daily use for best accuracy. Tip compatibility: confirm whether the instrument uses universal-fit (standard conical shaft), LTS (Rainin cylindrical), or proprietary tips (Eppendorf epT.I.P.S.) before purchasing to avoid tip-instrument mismatch.

Ergonomics and Calibration
For high-throughput labs (>500 tip changes per day), low ejection force and lightweight body reduce cumulative hand strain. All pipettors should be calibrated at a minimum every 6 months per ISO 8655; in-lab calibration tools are available for Eppendorf and Rainin models.

Specifications Context

ISO 8655 Part 2 (piston-operated volumetric instruments — single-channel) and Part 6 (multichannel) define accuracy and precision requirements. Standard accuracy specification for a 200 µL air-displacement pipettor is ±0.8 µL (Eppendorf Research Plus). Pipettors should be autoclavable or, at a minimum, have an autoclavable lower section for contamination-sensitive labs. Eppendorf Research Plus and Rainin Pipet-Lite XLS+ LTS are the dominant manual single-channel formats in North American research labs.

Control every microliter with ease—engineered for smooth handling, consistent accuracy, and uninterrupted lab performance. Contact the MBP team now!