Syringe Type
Key to selecting the right syringe for your application is to identify your sample type and determine the smallest volume to be dispensed or injected. Hamilton offers two types of syringes, GASTIGHT and MICROLITER, which differ in the design of the plunger.
Volume
For gas samples and heterogeneous liquids, there are four GASTIGHT syringe series from which to choose. For homogeneous liquid samples, there are five MICROLITER syringe series. Given the variety of syringe series available with MICROLITER and GASTIGHT plungers, an easy way to narrow down the list of series is to use delivery (or dispensing) volume as a discriminating factor. For the most accurate dispenses always choose a syringe that has a nominal volume as close to the dispense volume as possible.
For accuracy and precision, the smallest dispensing volume for a given syringe should be greater than or equal to 10% of its total capacity. For example, the smallest dispensing volume recommended for a 10 µL syringe is 1 µL. The following Syringe Type to Series Chart shows the volumes that each series is capable of dispensing within 10-100% of the syringes’ nominal volume. Syringe Series
MICROLITER Syringe Reference
(0.05 µL - 500 µL Delivery Volume) 
GASTIGHT Syringe Reference (1 µL - 2000 mL Delivery Volume)
Termination Terminations are located at the end of the syringe barrel and function as the interface between the syringe and its mating connection such as the needle. Terminations are offered in a number of different needle and connection configurations to accommodate a broad range of applications.
Gauge
When selecting a needle gauge it is important to keep in mind the volume of the syringe and the dead volume of the needle. For example, it will be very difficult to prime a 10 µL syringe if the dead volume in the needle is greater than 10 µL. Refer to the gauge index to choose a needle gauge with an appropriate µL/inch before selecting a needle. Select the minimum length that allows you to
carry out your application comfortably.
Note: The ‘s’ on a 22s needle represents a smaller I.D. (inner diameter) for the needle and a thicker needle wall for better durability. For example, a 26 gauge needle has an O.D. (outer diameter) of 0.46 mm and an I.D. of 0.26 mm while the 26s gauge needle has an O.D. of 0.47 mm and an I.D. of 0.13 mm. The 26s has half the I.D. of the 26 gauge needle. Also, the difference in the wall thickness nearly doubles with 26s gauge having a thickness of 0.18 mm while the 26 gauge is only 0.10 mm. Length
The standard length needle for a Hamilton syringe is 2 inches or 51 mm. In some cases other lengths are available but if a custom length is desired this can be ordered through the Custom Needle Program. Simply select the "Custom Needle" option or the "No Needle Included" option from the length menu on the filter tool. When you select a product that has a custom needle you will have to specify the desired length during the ordering process. When you select the no needle option you will have to purchase a compatible custom needle six pack along with the syringe order.
Point StyleSeveral different needle point styles are offered on Hamilton syringe and needle products depending on the application. The correct point style varies depending on the intended application. Below are a few examples of common applications.
Animal Injections: Point Style 4 with a 45º angle allows for the most accurate targeting of a specific biological structure. Manual HPLC Injections: Most manual injection valves are designed to be used with a 22 gauge Point Style 3 needle. Manual GC Injections: Historically a Point Style 2 was required to achieve efficient septum penetration with minimized coring. With Hamilton’s new line of GC septa there is evidence that indicates the Point Style AS will consistently extend septa life by as much as 10-fold. Drawing Sample: Any point style will efficiently draw a sample, but when it is important to get the last drop out of a vial use Point Style 3 or AS to reach all the way to the bottom. Note: Syringes and needles manufactured by Hamilton Company are intended for scientific research and laboratory use only and are not intended for human in vivo use. Point Style 2 Sharp, beveled, curved, non-coring needle point recommended for septum penetration. Available gauges: 33-10.  Point Style 3 Blunt needle point for use with HPLC injection valves and for sample pipetting. Available gauges: 33-10.  Point Style 4 Standard 12° beveled needle point is recommended for life science applications. Available gauges: 33-10. Special point styles such as 30°, 45°, or any other angle are available upon request.  Point Style 5 Conical needle with side port for penetration of septa, thin-gauged vinyls and plastics without coring. Available gauges: 26-10.  Point Style AS Special conical style needle point used on autosampler syringes the non-coring needle point is recommended for septum penetration. Available gauges: 26 & 22. 
The Adjustable Gel Loading Syringe (AGLS) allows quick, easy transfer and loading of DNA samples. Eight samples at a time can be transferred directly from a microwell plate with 9 mm spacing to a 96-lane gel with 10.8 mm spacing. Easy Needle Spacing Adjustment The easy-to-use sliding plate makes needle spacing adjustment possible without repositioning the hands. Simply slide the plate up or down for the appropriate needle spacing. There's no need to pause between the sample filling and gel loading procedure since the sliding plate lever is within reach of your fingers on the backside of the AGLS. As a result, gels are loaded more efficiently, decreasing diffusion-related band broadening and loading order errors.
IN THE NEWS A Discovery Channel Two-Night World Premiere Special Event, KING TUT UNWRAPPED, introduced us to world-renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, as he led an unprecedented forensic investigation into the life and time of Egyptian Pharaoh, King Tutankhamen. His efforts revealed for the first time the identity of Tut’s parents and grandparents, his cause of death, and new details of his reign. Fifteen DNA samples were extracted, over a two and half hour period, from King Tut’s mummy. The first-ever DNA extractions from the Boy King, that set into motion a series of cross-reference studies dedicated to understanding the Tut family tree. Gel Electrophoresis was used to detect the presence of DNA strands in the samples taken from Tut’s mummy. The tubes containing the samples were dark in color, an undesirable trait, and a disheartening concern. The mummy of the “Golden Boy” was preserved using wax, oil, and honey. So much of this resin mixture was used that it soaked into the bones of King Tut’s mummy, making sampling the DNA a difficult endeavor. Using Gel Electrophoresis, geneticists were indeed able to determine that they had in their possession, small fragments of DNA from Tutankhamen. His brief reign, youthful visage, and premature death, as well as the rediscovery of his remains and tomb in 1922, have fascinated Egyptologists for decades. With successful genetic sequencing of Tut’s father, Dr. Hawass has also been able to identify his mother and grandparents, a 3300 year-old mystery. HOW HAMILTON CAN HELP YOU MAKE HISTORY To perform similar experimentation, Hamilton Multi-Channel Loading syringes can be used with instrumentation like the ABI PRISM 377 DNA Sequencer. To use this instrument, DNA fragments labeled with up to four different fluorescent dyes are combined and loaded into one lane on a vertical slab gel made of polymerized acrylamide or acrylamide derivatives. You can load up to 96 lanes on one gel depending on the model instrument you have. Hamilton Adjustable Multi-Channel Gel Loading Syringes simplify and speed sample loading of 96-lane gels. They have an easy-to-use design for needle spacing adjustment. The removable needle designs are available with 0.2 mm. The ABI PRISM 377 is designed to accommodate different size gel plates so that the distance the sample migrates before detection can be varied. This feature permits run times and sample resolution to be optimized according to the type of analysis. Hamilton Multi-Channel Gel Loading Syringes are designed for multiplex DNA sequencing methodologies. You can rapidly transfer 8 or 12 samples to sequencing gels, MICROTITER® plates or nylon membranes. It accurately dispenses from 0.2 to 10 µL of sample per syringe simultaneously. The 9 mm needle spacing and the three needle diameters optimize sample transfers. There is an adjustable volume stop that allows faster, more accurate reloading and excellent reproducibility. Once the samples are loaded, voltage is applied, causing the fragments to electrophorese through the gel and separate according to size. The fragments pass through an area called the “read region,” where a laser beam continuously scans across the gel. The laser excited the fluorescent dyes attached to the fragments, and they emit light at a specific wavelength for each dye. The light is collected during each scan. It is then separated according to wavelength by a spectrograph onto a cooled, charged coupled device (CCD) camera, so all four types of fluorescent emissions can be detected with one pass of the laser. The data collection software collects the light intensities from the CCD at particular wavelength bands and stores them as digital signals for processing. At the end of the data collection, the analysis software is used to manually or automatically process, analyze, and translate the collected date into either base sequence, fragment sizing information, or relative concentrations.
References
IN THE NEWS References Howard Markel, MD, PhD. “King Tutankhamun, Modern Medical Science, and the Expanding Boundaries of Historical Inquiry.” JAMA. 2010;303(7):667-668. Discovery Channel. “King Tut Unwrapped: Egypt Guide: Discovery Channel.” Discovery Communications, LLC. 2010. Discovery Channel. 22 Feb. 2010. <http://dsc.discovery.com/egypt/tut-investigation/king-tut-unwrapped.html> Image Credit http://dsc.discovery.com/egypt/tut-investigation/images/king-tut-unwrapped175.jpg
HOW HAMILTON CAN HELP References Applied Biosystems. ABI PRISM 377 DNA Sequencer User’s Manual. Foster City: Applied Biosystems, 2000.
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The 600 series are robust syringes consisting of two distinct parts.
The bottom half of the barrel accurately measures the liquid sample
and the top half supports the plunger. In addition, the top section
of the plunger is thicker to further reduce the risk of bending the
plunger. These syringes require half of the standard stroke length making
them ideal for one-handed operation. The plungers and barrels are not
interchangeable or replaceable.
The 700 series is the original Hamilton syringe.
It was designed to solve the general liquid handling requirements of manufacturing
and research laboratories and remains the industry standard. The plungers
and barrels are not interchangeable or replaceable.
The 800 series has the same liquid handling capabilities as the 700
series, but with the addition of an aluminum syringe holder designed
to eliminate the possibility of plunger damage. The syringe holder screws
onto the glass barrel. A two-piece extended plunger further eliminates
the risk of breakage. A friction screw at the top of the barrel can
be adjusted to give the user some control over dispensing speed and
prevent the accidental removal of the plunger. In addition, the syringe
holder can be fitted with different barrel/plunger assemblies to cover
a range of volumes.
The 900 series has the same liquid handling capabilities
as the 800 series but is a more economical version. The 900 series does
not have any replaceable parts making the initial cost less than the
800 series.
The 7000 series employs a plunger wire inside
the needle to accurately dispense ultra-low volumes. The needle is bored
to extremely accurate tolerances to accommodate the plunger wire. With
the plunger inside the needle, the standard dead volume inside
the needle is eliminated.
The 1000 series is a mid-volume solution for all liquid and gas handling needs.
This is the GASTIGHT version of the original Hamilton 700 series syringe. It was designed to meet the low volume gas or liquid handling needs of research and manufacturing laboratories.
The 1800 series was designed to eliminate the possibility of plunger damage. It has the same liquid handling capabilities as the 1700 series but the extended plunger eliminates breakage and allows the user some control over the dispense speed.
Super Syringes were designed primarily for air sampling, preparing gas standards, calibrating reservoirs, and pneumographs. The Super Syringe is the only Hamilton syringe with an acrylic barrel, which makes this syringe slightly less chemically resistant.
