A lot of the labs in 2025 will continue to grapple with elementary pipette storage habits, even with the prevailing developments in lab design, automation, and quality systems. Bad storage can be seen as a small problem, but in the long run, it causes flawed accuracy and a reduction of the instrument's service life, contamination, and invalid experimentation.
With the labs already under pressure to be reproducible, comply, and efficient, this is no longer an option; these pipette storage mistakes have to be addressed. The most typical pipette storage errors that laboratories still commit to this day, and the reason it is essential to correct those mistakes.
The problem of storing lab pipettes horizontally on the bench or in drawers is still a popular problem. Although this practice may seem convenient, it may cause the internal contamination of fluids. The leftover residues of the liquid can leak into the piston or other internal apparatuses upon storing in a flat manner, which may result in damage to seals and calibration.
The major risks of horizontal storage are:
Liquid and internal components migration.
Wiretaps and pistons wear more severely.
Declining volume accuracy with time.
Vertical storage, preferably with the tip facing downwards, is implemented to avoid the liquid moving to the sensitive parts due to gravity. Special pipette stands are designed to avoid this danger and ensure that tools remain available.
Controlling temperature is not only an important issue during experimental work; it is also important in storage. Pipettes stored close to windows, incubators, autoclaves, or other sources of heat might undergo thermal expansion or degradation of materials.
The usual heat-related issues are:
Warping of plastic housings
Wearing off of internal seals.
Slight decrease in calibration stability.
The changes in the volume accuracy may not be apparent immediately because of repeated exposure to heat. Sufficient storage facilities must be kept at the same room temperature condition and must not be exposed to direct light and heat sources.
One of the other pipette storage mistakes is to leave pipettes on exposed benches. External surfaces may become cone-coated with dust or aerosols, chemical vapors, or biological contaminants, or may be introduced into the shaft opening, particularly where there is a large amount of traffic in a laboratory.
Exposure to the uncovered storage includes:
The aerosols of dust and particulates.
Chemical fumes and vapors
Local work on biological aerosols.
Enclosed cabinets or bench-mounted stands can be used with the assistance of protective holders that ensure the pipettes are clean and secure and still easily reachable.
71% of physicians agree that improving laboratory results could increase patient safety. In most of the labs, there is still no clear separation of sterile and non-sterile pipettes. Keeping them in the same places and particularly sharing racks with them confuses and raises the risk of contamination exponentially.
Issues that come up as a result of mixed storage are:
Sample contamination of sensitive samples.
The mistake of the user through inappropriate labelling.
Experiments that failed and the duplication of work.
The best practices in how to store pipettes include compliant storage space with a distinct labelling of sterile usage, indicative of cell culture or even molecular biology.
Crowding occurs frequently due to the lack of space or the accumulation of lab stock, yet closely spaced pipette racks cause numerous issues. Pipettes that are kept too near each other have risks of colliding, falling, or mechanical damage.
Compared to counterfeiters, overcrowded racks can result in:
There are greater possibilities of drops and impact.
Problem with the proper replacement of pipettes.
Reduced speed and frustrations among the users.
The worth of investing in storage systems of the right size- or installing more as the lab increases in size- enhances the organizational nature, safety, and efficiency.
The users often fail to clean or decontaminate pipettes because of time pressure and heavy workloads. The leftover chemicals, biological materials, or salts on the shaft can be dried and difficult to remove in the future, making it more prone to corrosion or contamination.
Lack of proper storage of the unclean pipette can lead to:
Chemical buildup on shafts
User-to-user cross-contamination.
Material degeneration in the long term.
It is essential to develop a set of guidelines on how to store pipettes, concerning wiping down or disinfecting a pipette before its storage, particularly in common labs. Whenever storage begins, clean instruments must be used.
Maybe the most unnoticed error is the one of disregarding the storage guidelines that manufacturers suggest. These are pipette maintenance tips and guidelines, which are founded on massive testing of materials, seals, and mechanical systems.
It is normally stipulated in manufacturer guidelines:
Storing orientation is recommended.
Regulation of acceptable temperature and humidity.
Housekeeping and servicing times.
Regardless of the type of pipette (standard mechanical or modern electronic markets, e.g., IKA), by adhering to the documentation on storage instructions, one may achieve the same outcome and be able to rely on it over time.
Better pipette storage does not involve any complicated technology or significant investments; it just involves minding details, having clear protocols, and making habits. The labs can prevent damage to their pipettes and their data by using appropriate vertical storage, managing environmental conditions, separating sterile equipment, keeping their work areas clean, as well as following the recommendations of their manufacturers.
MBTpg