Dear Lab Guy,

My customer is using the Reusable Autoclavable Vaccu-Pette 96 Well Format Pipetting Device -  catalog no. 37876-0001 and has trouble getting a good seal after autoclaving this device. Do you have any tips for autoclaving?

Margot S

Hi Margot,

The Vaccu-Pette 96 Well Format Pipetting Device is one of my most favorite products, as its unique design cannot be found anywhere else. (It has also found a niche market with Molecular Gastronomists.)

You should autoclave the Vaccu-Pette at no more than 121º C for 20 minutes @ 15 psi. Please keep a watchful eye for any slight warpage which may affect the seal, and even more importantly, the glue/solvent seal itself.

From the information you gave, I suspect that the seal has been breached along the line connecting the bottom pipette half and the top part.

Try an old trick my father taught me for finding holes in tires. Dab your finger in dish soap and run it along this seam. Then while pushing the Vaccu-Pette down on something soft enough to effectively seal off the 96 holes, use your syringe to blow air into the manifold. If you see soap bubbles forming anywhere along the seam, that is where your seal-breach is. Repair those areas with an appropriate epoxy sealant such as Loctite® Plastics Bonding System.

I hope I answered your question, but feel free to write back if you need anything more.

Lab Guy