Proper Care and Feeding of Your Tomtec Small Volume Pipettor

The Tomtec Line of small volume pipettors uses a Stainless Steel, Teflon® coated, needle as it’s tip. Using this design allows us to provide our customers with the accuracy and precision needed when using today’s high density formats. Although this design precludes the regular disposal of the tips, Tomtec has addressed the issue of cleaning the tips in two ways. First, we have developed an ultrasonic cleaner with a flowing water bath. This allows the tips to be cleaned during and after use while installed on the unit. Second, we have designed the tip assembly to be quickly & easily removed. This unique design element allows for additional cleaning to be performed on the tip assembly, and for the internal pistons to be washed as well.

So in order to keep your pipettor in proper working order, Tomtec recommends the following procedures be followed:

While using your Tomtec SV pipettor, wash the tips using the ultrasonic cleaner by performing the mix function while the tips are immersed in the flowing bath. The wash volume should exceed the transfer volume by at least 5µL.

At the end of the day’s use, perform the wash function again but for a minimum of five minutes, using a mix volume of 55µL with a 5µL air gap drawn first. Then shuck the tip assembly and perform a piston wash for a minimum of five minutes. Your pipettor is now ready for the next days use.

(Please refer to the users manual for instructions on using these functions)

If you should find that the above procedure is not adequate for your level or type of usage, you may consider the following additional procedure:

After removing the tip assembly, place the assembly upside down in an ultrasonic bath capable of submerging the entire assembly. The bath should contain only De-ionized water. Sonicate the assembly for a minimum of 10 minutes. Remove the assembly and allow to dry over night, or dry it by blowing clean compressed air through the tips.

If you should find that the small orifice at the bottom end of a tip remains clogged after careful cleaning, you may use the tip orifice cleaner (Catalog No. 020647) equipped with a specially designed bit to remove the clog. One holder and two bits are provided with each device. To avoid breaking the bit, we suggest it be placed in the holder so that no more then 0.5 inch is exposed. Never insert anything into the top of the tip assembly or damage to the pipetting seal will result.