PIPETTE REPAIR & RECALIBRATION: Questions & Answers

Yes and No. A seal and O-ring, parts which should be replaced every time the pipette is overhauled ARE included for most pipettes (Gilson, Rainin, Biohit, etc), where applicable. Other major parts broken or damaged by misuse, accident or incorrect repairs ARE NOT included. These parts are replaces only when absolutely necessary for pipette recalibration. Most instruments need no additional parts replaced. If the total cost of calibration and parts ever approaches half the cost of a new instrument, you will be contacted on whether you wish the repairs to proceed.

Air-displacement pipettes require recalibration as a direct result of wear between the seal and piston. Instruments in heavy daily use for purposes such as Q.A. or assays should be serviced every 3 to 6 months. Instruments used for routine benchwork should be serviced approximately once every 6-12 months.

If more than 6 to 12 months (depending on usage) have passed since the pipette was serviced by a trained technician, it is in need of recalibration. If significant signs of wear are evident, such as leaking, rough action, or tips that won’t stay on – you may have already experienced several months of gross instrument malfunction.

AccuTek Laboratories is one of the very few calibration laboratories certified to ISO9001:2000 and ISO/IEC17025:2005 standards. (Download: AccuTek ISO900 Quality Manual) Accutek’s printed reports are designed to cover all types of laboratory need with respect to documentation of instrument maintenance programs. Laboratories and companies using our reports have already passed through many FDA and other regulatory agency inspections. For all services, a computer generated calibration report is included with performance data on each pipette, pass/fail status, specification and environmental data. Each pipette receives labels with pipette ID, serial number, job ID number, service date and next due date. All our procedures and certifications fulfill GMP, ISO, NCCLS, CAP, CLIA and FDA guidelines. We also offer GMP compliance report, if even higher degree of documentation is required.

Wear occurs in every instrument, without exception. Since wear is the single greatest contributor to loss of calibration, we recommend every pipette be checked for precise performance, regardless of manufacturer’s claims.

Absolutely. Variations in type of plastic used, tip design, and quality control employed are significant. DO NOT use the least expensive tips available. However, it is not necessary to purchase the most expensive tips, either. We recommend a high-quality, reasonably priced tip with beveled orifice such as Unifit™ Universal pipette tips for the most precise pipetting results.

Yes. If you have a microanalytical balance in current calibration with at least 5 decimal places and if you follow scientific guidelines regarding pipetting procedures and calculations involving mass to volume conversions for pure water, there is no reasonable substitute for an in-house program to verify performance of pipettes.

Certainly, almost anybody can adjust a pipetting device to deliver a single correct volume. However, calibration technicians with special experience and access to proper tools and parts have a distinct advantage when it comes to detecting and repairing problems, not to mention calibrating an instrument properly over a range of volumes. A professional calibration lab is much more efficient in terms of the overall process involving valuable technician time and resources from your laboratory.

AccuTek will recalibrate any type of pipetting device. Parts are stocked for most major pipette models. Multi-channel pipettes can also be overhauled and recalibrated for slightly higher fees – AccuTek is still far less expensive than regular factory service. A few makes and models of pipettes have more expensive calibration parts. Please call if you have questions about your specific instrument.

We recommend using the free shipping materials provided by UPS, DHL, AccuTek. You may request these materials be brought to your lab by courier when he/she arrives to pick up your order. If you would like to use your own materials, bundle the pipettes using newsprint and tape, and then box them. Fill the empty volume with some kind of loose packing material. Help us keep costs down by accurately stating shipping weight on the air bill. If you prefer to use an alternate service to ship to AccuTek at your expense, feel free to do so.

Our technicians pride themselves on being able to fix almost any damage. Very rarely, we run across an instrument that requires so many parts, it is simply not cost-effective to repair. Upon completion of diagnostic test we will contact you with the best cost effective options available.