For solutions with high viscosity or tendency to foam use the reverse technique: This technique is commonly used with air displacement pipettes, and is recommended for precisely pipetting small volumes. Reverse pipetting avoids the risk of sample splash, foaming, or bubble formation.

What is reverse pipetting used for?

Reverse pipetting is a technique to dispense a measured quantity of liquid by means of air displacement, which reduces the risk of splashing, foam or bubble formation. Reverse pipetting is more precise in dispensing small volumes of liquids containing proteins and biological solutions compared to forward pipetting.

Why is reverse pipetting more accurate?

Use of the reverse pipetting technique can improve the precision when pipetting such solutions, since it aspirates a volume that is greater than that set. The excess liquid acts as a reservoir to even out the sequential volumes, thus maintaining the integrity and subsequent reliability of data with these liquid types.