What Is a Pipette?
A pipette is a precision instrument used to measure and transfer specific volumes of liquid. Pipettes are commonly used in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, clinical, research, quality control, and analytical testing environments where accurate volume delivery is critical.
Pipettes may be used repeatedly throughout the day, and even small changes in performance can affect sample preparation, assay results, reagent usage, and data integrity. Regular calibration helps confirm that pipettes continue to dispense within required tolerances and produce reliable, traceable results.
Common Types of Pipettes
SIMCO supports calibration and maintenance for common pipette types, including:
- Single-channel pipettes used for standard liquid handling and precision dispensing
- Multi-channel pipettes used for plate-based assays and high-throughput workflows
- Adjustable-volume pipettes used for flexible dispensing across different volume ranges
- Fixed-volume pipettes used for repetitive dispensing at a defined volume
- Electronic pipettes used for programmable and motor-driven liquid handling
- Repeater pipettes used for repeated dispensing applications
- Positive displacement pipettes used for viscous, volatile, or difficult liquids
- Microdispensers used for low-volume and high-precision applications
SIMCO supports pipettes from leading manufacturers, including Eppendorf, Gilson, Rainin, Thermo Fisher, Sartorius, and more.
Pipette Calibration Capabilities
SIMCO provides pipette calibration and maintenance services designed to verify volumetric accuracy, identify performance drift, reduce downtime, and support traceable documentation for quality and compliance programs.
Our pipette services may include:
- Intake and inspection for mechanical condition, damage, contamination, or dispensing issues
- Volumetric testing to verify pipette performance against required tolerances
- Calibration and adjustment, when supported by the instrument and service scope
- Post-calibration verification to confirm final performance
- As-found and as-left results, when required
- Uncertainty statements and traceable calibration documentation
- Scheduled maintenance support and service reminders through CERDAAC SIMCO Manager
- C.A.R.E. exchange support to help reduce pipette downtime
Why Pipette Calibration Matters
Pipette performance can drift over time due to repeated use, seal wear, piston issues, contamination, technique variation, environmental conditions, or normal mechanical wear. Even small volume deviations can affect test results, sample integrity, reagent usage, and downstream quality decisions.
Calibration helps support:
- Data accuracy: Helps prevent small volume deviations from affecting research, analytical, and quality control results.
- Compliance and audit readiness: Provides traceable documentation to support FDA, GLP, GMP, CLIA, ISO, and internal quality requirements.
- Cost control: Helps reduce wasted reagents, samples, retesting, and workflow disruption caused by inaccurate dispensing.
- Workflow reliability: Helps maintain confidence in pipettes used for critical liquid handling, sample preparation, and production support.
Calibration Service Options
SIMCO supports calibration programs through a range of service models designed to meet different operational, compliance, and turnaround requirements. Depending on your
instrument type, service scope, location, and quality requirements, available options may include:
- In-Lab Calibration: Instruments calibrated through SIMCO’s accredited lab network
- Onsite Calibration: Calibration at your facility, including in-situ services for installed equipment
- Embedded Laboratories: Onsite, fully managed calibration labs
- Managed Outside Services: Coordinated third-party calibration management
- Pickup and Delivery: Local pickup and delivery options available for SIMCO service areas
Industries and Applications We Support
SIMCO supports pipette calibration and maintenance for organizations where liquid handling accuracy, traceability, and compliance are critical.
Common applications include:
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality control
- Biotechnology research and development
- Clinical and diagnostic testing environments
- Medical device production and validation
- Analytical testing and sample preparation
- Laboratory research, assay development, and high-throughput workflows
- GMP, GLP, CLIA, FDA-regulated, and ISO quality environments
Why Choose SIMCO for Pipette Calibration?
- ISO/IEC 17025 accredited pipette calibration services
- Support for manual, electronic, single-channel, multi-channel, fixed-volume, and adjustable-volume pipettes
- Calibration and maintenance services designed to support accuracy, compliance, and uptime
- Traceable documentation with uncertainty statements and calibration results
- Service options including in-lab, onsite, embedded laboratories, managed services, and pickup and delivery
- C.A.R.E. exchange support to help reduce pipette downtime
- Asset management, service history, and reminders through CERDAAC SIMCO Manager