Why should I use the Hamilton Low Retention pipette tips?

Q: Why should I use the Hamilton Low Retention pipette tips?

Fluid retention is virtually eliminated and Hamilton low retention tips are not siliconized, therefore no sample leaching. You can also expect more reliable results and a reduction in reagent costs of typically 10 - 15%. This is a great benefit especially when working with low volumes of precious samples or with expensive reagents.

What are low retention pipette tips?

Low retention or low binding pipette tips are designed to limit adhesion of cells, rDNA, proteins, and other viscous material. Standard tips may leave small quantities of liquid on the outside or inside surface of the tip resulting in reduced pipetting accuracy. Low retention tips are manufactured from non-wettable polypropylene with additional quality control measures in to prevent flashing and burrs which also contribute to adhesion issues.

When should I use low retention pipette tips?

Low retention pipette tips should be used when working with viscous samples such as buffers, enzymes, plasma, detergents, foaming liquids, etc. Because such liquids tend to have low surface tension, droplets can adhere to non-hydrophobic surfaces. Low retention tips manufactured from virgin polypropylene are hydrophobic and will prevent this adhesion, increasing your pipetting accuracy and loss of sample.

When should I not use low retention pipette tips?

Low retention tips should not be used in situations where small volumes of 10 µL or less are being dispensed. In this case, low retention tips may cause difficulty drawing or dispensing due to the tip surfaces not being able to hold small droplets.

How are low retention tips manufactured?

Low retention pipette tips are manufactured from non-wettable polypropylene using a process called injection molding. Strict quality control processes are in place to prevent flashing and burrs that may cause additional retention issues.