Tips dispensing accuracy
To evaluate the quality of our reconditioned pipette tips, we conducted a gravimetric accuracy study comparing 1,200 new tips against 1,200 reconditioned tips across three standard sizes (10 μL, 200 μL, and 1,000 μL), tested across four Gilson Pipetman models (P10, P20, P200, and P1000), with the 200 μL tips evaluated on both the P20 and P200.
Each tip was tested at both its minimum and maximum volume settings by pipetting distilled water, and the dispensed weight was measured on a calibrated analytical balance. From these measurements, we calculated the accuracy and coefficient of variation (CV) for each group and compared them against original manufacturer specifications.
Our reconditioned tips met the same performance standards as new tips across all sizes and volume settings. For full methodology, see our published study: Mansouri et al., 2026 — npj Materials Sustainability.
The manufacturer’s acceptance criteria are shown in light green. All data points are plotted. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test (n = 30) with a Bonferroni-Holm correction. Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences between new and reconditioned tips: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
Results
Reconditioned pipette tips performed comparably to new tips in both accuracy and coefficient of variation (CV) across all four Pipetman models and volume settings, with both groups meeting manufacturer acceptance criteria in every condition tested. This confirms that reconditioned tips do deliver a precise volume.
In the vast majority of cases, no statistically significant differences were observed between new and reconditioned tips across five reconditioning cycles. One isolated exception was detected in the fourth reconditioning cycle for the P200 at its lowest volume setting, where reconditioned tips showed marginally higher CV values. This single occurrence could not be linked to any specific step in the reconditioning process, and critically, all measured values remained within manufacturer specifications confirming that performance was not compromised in any operationally meaningful way.
Conclusion
Our reconditioning process allows the use of reconditioned pipette tips in experiments requiring precise volume dispensing.