Course Offerings

Micropipettes are common laboratory devices used to accurately dispense small volumes of liquid samples. This course will focus on the principles of micropipetting used in biotechnology and other laboratory settings. Testing of pipetting skills will be made at the entry of the class and at the end of the course to access the student's improvement in micropipetting skills. Practical tips and techniques will be discussed and practiced to increase accuracy and precision of pipetting. Ergonomics will be discussed as it relates to the prevention of injuries due to repetitive motions in laboratory situations with particular emphasis on pipetting activities.

Course Objectives

• To introduce the basic skills of micropipette operation
• To provide experience with a variety of micropipettes that will be commonly encountered in laboratory situations
• To discuss and practice techniques used to increase pipetting performance
• To provide students with a means to quantify their pipetting skills and measure gains in those skills acquired during this course
• To provide an introduction to the dilution of laboratory reagents / samples and the calculations needed to make those dilutions
• To introduce the topic of ergonomics as it applies to laboratory procedures and the prevention of workplace injuries

Outline of Instruction

Course Introduction
1.1. Lecture: Use and function of micropippetors
1.2. Lab: Testing of initial micropipetting skill levels (Artel method)
1.3. Lecture: Discussion of factors affecting pipetting performance
1.4. Lecture: Discussion of methods to measure micropipette performance
1.5. Lecture: Guide to Dilutions
2. Technical Instruction
2.1. Lab: Practice micropipetting
2.2. Lecture: Tips for better pipetting
2.3. Lecture: Ergonomics and Micropipetting
2.4. Lab: Practice pipetting and Gravimetric method of measuring pipetting performance
2.5. Lab: Practice pipetting with glass, serological, and digital pipettes
3. Assessment
3.1. Lab: Final test of pipetting performance (Artel method)
4. Conclusions and Final Discussion
4.1. Open floor for additional questions and feedback

Contact Hours

6

CEUs

1

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

None

Website

None

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

CE or CU Articulation

No

Prerequisites

None

Learning Supplies Needed

Micropipettes, different pipets, training handouts, different solutions, micropipette tips, beakers, test tubes, test tube racks, straws, colored water, and ARTEL unit and unit supplies,

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

N/A

Requirements for Successful Completion

attendance Coefficient of variation (CV) < 1% with micropipettes in two attempts or fewer

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

N/A

Intended Audience

Bioprocess technicians, lab technicians, QC lab technicians, and environmental monitoring technicians

Specific Industry or Business Support Needs

N/A

Wake County Need for Industry Positions

N/A

Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment

Laboratory Technician

Bioprocessing Technician

Related Courses

BTC-3200A7

Course Contact Information

Cynthia Lawrence
919-335-1037
[email protected]