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Reproducibility remains a major challenge in scientific research, with over 70% of scientists struggling to replicate published findings. Improving reproducibility can minimize spurious results, reduce wasted resources, and restore trust in scientific discoveries. This white paper focuses on how pipetting, a key tool in life science and biomedical research, impacts reproducibility.
Pipetting requires exceptional accuracy and precision, but its ubiquity and seeming simplicity means it is often overlooked as a source of error. Because pipetting is used in so many steps of experimental workflows, it can be a significant confounding variable and negatively impact overall reproducibility. However, pipetting accuracy is impacted by many factors, making it difficult to resolve underlying contributors to variability. Here we will focus on practical changes to improve pipetting reproducibility, including:
- Pipette and tip selection
- Instrument care, maintenance, and calibration
- Technique and protocol best practices
