Why would pipette performance change over time?
Pipettes are high-precision instruments, even though not many people think of them in that way. A number of moving parts within each pipette can fail during regular use or as a result of damage from incorrect use. Mechanical failures can include leaky seals and O-rings, damage to the nose cone of the shaft, corrosion and contamination of the piston— to name but a few. • Should I be worried about my data? For sure. The longer the time since your last pipette calibration or performance verification, the greater the threat to your data integrity. A rational step would be to do an “as found” performance check on each of your pipettes. If a pipette is not performing to specification, all data collected since your last calibration with the failed pipette are potentially flawed. • Is remedial action required? If your data integrity has been compromised, it is very likely that remedial action is required. Determine what regulations you are subject to and consult the relevant guidelines and SOP
