What is the difference between a pasteur pipette and a volumetric pipette?

Glass pipettes are essential handheld tools in laboratories in the fields of biology, medicine, chemistry, environmental science, etc. As the name suggests, a pipette is used to transfer liquids(dropper). It can transfer liquids within a certain range from the original container to another container, and can easily and quickly complete operations such as pipetting, dilution, separation and combination of liquids. There are two types of pipettes on the market: Pasteur pipettes and volumetric pipettes. Although their functions are the same, there are slight differences in design and function. This article will specifically distinguish the differences between the two.
The Pasteur pipette is mainly composed of a glass tube and a rubber suction ball. When working, the liquid is sucked into the glass tube by squeezing the rubber suction ball to form pressure. When the liquid is released, it flows out naturally by its own gravity. This method of pipetting is simple and convenient, can be operated without the help of external objects, and is suitable for fast operation. However, it is difficult to control the amount of pipetting and cannot ensure the accuracy of pipetting, so it is only suitable for large-volume pipetting. For example, basic chemical experiments, simple teaching demonstrations, and preliminary liquid transfers. In terms of cleaning and maintenance, Pasteur pipettes only need to clean the glass tube after use, and the rubber suction ball is a consumable that needs to be replaced regularly. In terms of price, Pasteur pipettes are relatively cheap and more affordable.
Volumetric pipettes are mainly composed of display windows, capacity adjustment components, pistons, o-rings and tips. These components work together to enable the pipette to measure and transfer liquids more accurately. Therefore, volumetric pipettes are also called digital pipettes or adjustable pipettes. The working principle is to achieve liquid aspiration and liquid discharge through the movement of the piston. When the piston moves, it will expel or introduce air to generate atmospheric pressure to inhale or discharge liquid. Therefore, volumetric pipettes are also called exhaust micropipettes. The design of volumetric pipettes is more complex, and the adjustment components and display windows inside can help operators achieve the precision and accuracy of the set volume. Such pipettes can be used in laboratories with high precision requirements, such as drug development, cell culture, gene expression analysis, processing environmental science water samples and microbial testing. In terms of cleaning and maintenance, the volumetric pipette is the opposite of the Pasteur pipette. The volumetric pipette has a complex structure. After use, not only the outside of the instrument needs to be cleaned, but also the internal springs and pistons and other accessories need to be cleaned regularly with cleaning fluid, soap, double distilled water, etc. (the accessories should be disassembled before cleaning, dried naturally after cleaning, and reassembled after completion). It is also necessary to calibrate the pipette and replace accessories regularly to avoid errors. The purchase cost and maintenance cost of this pipette are relatively high, and people can buy it according to specific needs.
I believe that through the introduction, everyone has an understanding of the differences between Pasteur pipettes and volumetric pipettes. If you are interested in making pipette machines and equipment, please consult Nantong Haiyun Industry and Trade Co., Ltd.