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Who this is for: lab staff, students and buyers who need to know what a pipette pump is, how the common types differ, and what manufacturers’ instructions say about using one. This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
What a pipette pump is
A pipette pump is a hand-held aid that draws liquid up into a glass or plastic measuring (volumetric or serological-style) pipette and lets it out again, so nobody has to pipette by mouth. The same device is also called a pipette controller, pipette filler or pipette aid. Manufacturers’ manuals describe the working range as roughly 0.1 mL to 100 mL (0.5 mL to 100 mL for one battery-powered model), and state that when a controller is used correctly the liquid touches only the pipette, not the controller.
It is a different device from a micropipette, which is a piston-operated instrument with disposable tips (see what is a micropipette), and from a bulb-type transfer pipette (see transfer pipette). For the pipette itself, see what is a pipette. Mechanical aids exist to replace mouth pipetting, covered in pipetting by mouth.
Parts and how a pipette pump works
A manual controller (the Globe Scientific 3375 manual is the example here) lists these components: housing, locking ring, suction bellows, filter, nose cone, silicone adapter, an aspirate and dispense lever, and a blow-out bellows. The pipette is gently pushed into the silicone adapter in the nose cone, without excessive force. Squeezing the suction bellows creates a vacuum, and moving the aspirate lever raises the liquid; the further the lever is moved, the stronger the suction and the faster the meniscus rises. A dispense lever lets liquid out under control, and the blow-out bellows is used for pipettes that are calibrated for blow-out.
A battery-powered controller (the labsolute controller from TH. Geyer is the example here) is described as an engine-powered pipetting aid for cordless work. It uses a micro pump instead of bellows, with finger pressure on a trigger setting the speed and three modes: H (high), L (low) and G (gravity only). In both designs a replaceable membrane filter sits between the pipette and the controller to protect the mechanism.
Types of pipette pump
| Type (example manual) | Power and mechanism | Pipette range stated in manual | Filter and cleaning statements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual bellows controller (Globe Scientific 3375) | Hand-squeezed suction bellows plus aspirate and dispense lever; blow-out bellows | 0.1 mL to 100 mL, glass or plastic pipettes | Filter protects the unit; if liquid enters, remove the pipette, unscrew the nose cone, rinse and dry the silicone adapter, replace a damaged adapter and the filter, then leak-test |
| Battery-powered controller (labsolute, TH. Geyer) | Micro pump; two 1000 mAh NiMH batteries; speed modes H, L and G (gravity) | 0.1 mL to 100 mL, glass or plastic pipettes | Replaceable membrane filters protect against vapors drawn into the pipette |
| Battery-powered controller (Labnet FASTPETTE PRO) | Rechargeable, two dispense modes | 0.5 mL to 100 mL, glass or plastic pipettes | PP/PTFE membrane filters (0.2 µm and 0.45 µm listed as spare parts); nosepiece and pipette holder may be autoclaved at 121 °C for 20 minutes; the filter in the set for no more than 15 minutes at 121 °C; exterior wiped with a swab moistened with isopropyl alcohol |
Note that the lower limit differs between models (0.1 mL versus 0.5 mL), so a model’s own instructions for use, not the device class, decide which pipettes it fits.
Specifications that matter
- Pipette volume range: as stated in each manual, see the table above.
- Power: the labsolute manual gives two 1000 mAh NiMH batteries, a 3 to 4 hour charge, use while charging, and up to 8 hours of continuous work; it says to use only the original charger.
- Speed: the labsolute manual recommends L for pipettes up to 5 mL and H for volumes above 5 mL.
- Storage: the Labnet manual gives -20 to +50 °C; the labsolute manual says to store the unit on its wall bracket and not with a filled pipette.
What the manuals say about choosing one
The manuals state only compatibility criteria: the unit must be listed for the pipette material (glass or plastic) and the pipette volume you will use, and, for battery models, the liquids must not be ones the manual excludes (see safe use below). Whether to use a manual or powered unit is not addressed by these manuals, so match the type to the pipettes and workflow you actually have and read the instructions for use before buying.
Safe use and handling basics
- Do not allow liquid to enter the controller; the Globe Scientific manual says this severely impairs the filter and reduces suction.
- Insert the pipette gently, with no excessive force, and check the pipette first for damage, dents or sharp edges at the upper part (labsolute manual). Hold the pipette vertical with the tip down, and keep the gripping part dry.
- Wear protective clothing, goggles and gloves, and observe the reagent manufacturer’s safety instructions (labsolute manual).
- The labsolute manual says never to use the unit with highly flammable liquids, in an explosive atmosphere, or with liquids whose vapors damage plastics such as ABS, PA, silicone or POM.
- Use only original chargers and spare parts; clean and decontaminate a unit before returning it for service (Labnet manual).
Common mistakes
| Symptom or mistake | What the manual says |
|---|---|
| Liquid drawn into the controller | Filter performance is severely reduced and suction drops (Globe Scientific 3375); dismantle, rinse and dry the adapter, replace the filter |
| Low suction on a battery unit | Causes listed: low speed set, blocked check valve, dirty or wet filter (labsolute) |
| Liquid drips from the pipette | Causes listed: pipette not seated properly, damaged holder (labsolute); for the manual unit, aspirate to at least half capacity and hold over a reservoir, and if it drips, dismantle and reassemble (Globe Scientific 3375) |
| Storing with a filled pipette | Not recommended (labsolute) |
FAQ
What is the use of a pipette in a laboratory?
A pipette measures and transfers a defined volume of liquid. Larger glass or plastic pipettes are filled with the help of a pipette pump; see what is a pipette.
What does pipet mean?
“Pipet” is a common spelling variant of “pipette”, the tube-like instrument for measuring and transferring liquid.
What is a science dropper called?
A squeeze-bulb dropper is a transfer pipette (also called a dropper or Pasteur-style pipette). It is bulb-driven and not a pipette pump; see transfer pipette.
How to choose the right pipette?
Choose by the volume you need to measure and the pipette type your method specifies, then confirm that the controller you have is listed for that pipette material and volume range. Micropipettes use tips and a different mechanism; see what is a micropipette.
Sources
- Globe Scientific, 3375 Manual Pipet Controller user manual (PDF), read 2026-11-08: manufacturer manual.
- TH. Geyer, labsolute pipette controller operating instructions (PDF), read 2026-11-08: manufacturer manual.
- Labnet, FASTPETTE PRO manual (PDF), read 2026-11-08: manufacturer manual.
