Universal Pipette Tip vs a Filtered Pipette Tip

Written by David Stone | July 6, 2023

Universal pipette tips and filtered pipette tips are both commonly used in laboratories for various pipetting applications. While they serve similar purposes, there are differences between the two pipette tips in terms of their design and functionality.

Universal Pipette Tips: Universal pipette tips are the standard type of tips used with pipettes. They are typically made of polypropylene and have a straight, open-ended design. Universal tips are used for general pipetting tasks where sample contamination is not a major concern. They are suitable for applications such as transferring liquids between containers, dilutions, and general pipetting in molecular biology, biochemistry, and other fields.
Filtered Pipette Tips: Filtered pipette tips, also known as barrier tips, are designed with an additional filtration component to prevent contamination of the pipette and the sample being pipetted. The filter is usually made of hydrophobic material, such as porous polyethylene, that allows air to pass through but blocks liquids and aerosols. This filter acts as a barrier, preventing any liquid or microbial contaminants from reaching the pipette shaft.
Filtered tips are particularly useful when working with sensitive samples, such as DNA, RNA, PCR reactions, cell cultures, or any application where contamination can affect the experimental results. The filtration component helps to minimize the risk of cross-contamination between samples and protects the pipette from potentially harmful substances. Filtered tips are commonly used in molecular biology, microbiology, and clinical laboratories.

It's important to note that filtered tips are not necessary for all applications. If your work involves non-sensitive samples or if contamination is not a major concern, universal tips can be a cost-effective choice. However, when working with precious or potentially contaminated samples, using filtered tips is recommended to ensure the integrity of your experiments.

In summary, while both universal and filtered pipette tips serve the purpose of transferring liquids, filtered tips provide an additional layer of protection against contamination and are ideal for applications where sample purity is critical. The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements of your experiment and the level of sample protection needed.

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