Ergonomic Considerations for Pipette Selection and Use

Any repetitive task can cause strain to the human body, and pipetting, among the most repetitious lab activities, is a well-known cause of repetitive stress injuries (RSI). Stiffness or weakness, tingling or numbness, as well as muscle cramps of the hands and fingers, shoulders, neck, or wrists are all early warning signs of an RSI. Before you start experiencing any of these symptoms, there are a number of best practices as well as corrective actions you should embrace, many of which will be discussed in this article.

According to the CDC, the goal of ergonomics is to prevent soft tissue and musculoskeletal injuries related to sudden or sustained exposure to force, vibration, repetitive motion, and awkward posture. Two of the most-effective methods recommended to create a safe and efficient work environment are good workspace design and choosing equipment that has been designed with ergonomics in mind and causes as little strain as possible without sacrificing accuracy and precision.

Pipetting workspace design best practices include:

• Making sure the workstation is aligned to your height
• Ensuring ample leg space is available under the work surface
• Use of anti-fatigue mats if standing for long periods
• An adjustable chair that allows you to sit close to the work area and also rest your feet on the floor
• All tools that are being used should be positioned close by to avoid reaching

UCLA Ergonomics has published a list of useful pipetting tips, many of which focus on body mechanics. Their suggestions include:

• Do not twist or rotate your wrist while pipetting
• Alternate or use both hands to pipette
• Hold the pipette with a relaxed grip
• Use minimal pressure while pipetting
• Use light force or two hands to change tips
• Take a short break after every 20 minutes of pipetting.

What does an optimally designed, ergonomic pipette look like? Answers to that question vary, but most often an ergonomic pipette is:

• Lightweight and cushioned or contoured to your hand, which makes it easier to hold
• Shorter, which reduces arm elevation
• Features an easy-to-use plunger requiring minimal force
• Is multichannel, which reduces repetition
• Is electronic, which eliminates most of the pipetting forces. 

To find the right ergonomic pipette for your needs, start as you would for any pipette, by considering the type of liquid you'll be handling and the volume range required for your experiments. Then, evaluate the ergonomic features such as weight, size, grip design, and button placement, which can greatly affect user comfort during prolonged pipetting sessions. Additionally, look for pipettes that offer adjustable settings and modes to suit your specific applications, as versatility is key in a laboratory setting. Finally, read user reviews and seek recommendations from colleagues to ensure you select a pipette that not only meets your technical requirements but also provides a comfortable and ergonomic pipetting experience.

“Ergonomic” and “comfortable” are among the key features used by Biocompare’s product reviewers to describe their favorite pipettes. Our team of independent product reviewers has been using and reviewing pipettes and related accessories for decades. Their pipette reviews frequently include comments on ease of use as well as comfort while using, which makes sense considering how much pipetting is often required in the lab.

Below is a table of pipette-related Biocompare reviews that mention ergonomics. Only brief excerpts from the reviews are included in the table, but a link is provided to each review for access to the complete review.

Some Ergonomic-Related Pipette Reviews from Biocompare’s Product Reviewers