Pipettes are an essential tool found in research and clinical laboratories that are used to dispense measured volumes of liquids. Pipettes most commonly work by creating a partial vacuum above the chamber that holds the liquid and selectively releasing this vacuum to draw up and dispense according to the preferred volume. Pipettes enable sterile and accurate liquid handling and are commonly used within molecular biology, analytic chemistry and medical tests. Single channel pipettes typically dispense between 0 to 2500 ul volumes, and are available in two formats: adjustable or fixed volume. Adjustable pipettes have the flexibility to change volumes as needed by a particular assay. A set of adjustable pipettes that covers the entire range of 0 to 1000 ul can be sufficient for most applications. Fixed volumes cannot vary from their assigned volume. This prevents errors in dispensing the incorrect volume or cross contamination introduced by handling. Features to look for in single channel pipettes include easy validation, decontamination and calibration, and compatibility with manufacturer’s tips.