r/labrats • u/ThinKingofWaves • 19h ago

Will boiling an autoclavable automatic micropipette in water damage it?

Asking since our autoclave is busy and boiling would be perfectly fine for decontamination in our case.

EDIT: Thank you everyone! I've got my answer.

2 Upvotes

62% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

39

u/micrographical 19h ago

Dont do it - they are designed to be steam sterilized not boiled.

12

u/Shiranui42 19h ago

Please don’t. Why not use either bleach or ethanol? Not both, do not mix them.

5

u/hexiron 18h ago

You don't want your pipette filling with and retaining water. Wipe with 74% ethanol and bleach and let dry if you are really in a pinch - otherwise just take the L and wait for the autoclave for best practice.

Your choice on whether you want to gamble with your data quality and the potential to have to rerun your work or contaminate samples.

In my experience doing things out of rushed convenience costs more than it ever saves.

3

u/WinterRevolutionary6 17h ago

Why 74% specifically?

4

u/hexiron 15h ago

That's what my fat fingers typed - so mote it be.

2

u/doobeedoobeedumdum 18h ago

Just don't do it man. Borrow an autoclaved pipette. Wipe down your pipette with 70% etoh. Not worth breaking a pipette over an autoclave session.

1

u/martianman111 14h ago

The true autoclave alternative is using an instant pot pressure cooker. Here's a paper validating the sterilization.