ABSTRACT

In this experiment, the group was able to test the accuracy and precision while using a
micropipettor. These were acquired by measuring the weight of different water samples by one
member and by all members of the group. The standard deviation and percent error were calculated
for the water samples. It was found that student #1 (Ngo) had the most accurate value among the
members of the group while student #2 (Ramirez) had the least accurate value based on the percent
error obtained. Discrepancies in the values obtained are due to possible causes of error such as
improper dispensing of liquid in the analytical balance, micropipettors not well calibrated,
presence of air bubbles, choice of micropipettor used, and/or contaminated analytical balance.

INTRODUCTION

The study of cell and molecular biology is a specific type of biology that deals with the

examination of cells at the molecular level. It focuses on the interactions between many cell

systems. Scientists have found an ever-increasing number of ways to probe the secrets of the cell

and the biochemical processes that make life what it is. Biologists now have a wide variety of tools

at their disposal to study the functions of genes and proteins and figure out how cells work.

Laboratory instruments are devised to achieve accuracy and precision as it deals with up to

microscopic level.

There are many devices that laboratory workers use to pipette solutions. The micropipettor

is one of the most commonly used instruments in science laboratories. The micropipette is a

Wisconsin invention developed through interactions among several people, primarily inventor

Warren Gilson and Henry Lardy, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-

Madison. Pipettes are used to accurately measure and dispense relatively small volumes of liquid.

The capacity of a micropipette can range from less than 1µl to 1000µl (1mL),

while macropipettes can measure volumes greater than 1L. These are used to physically interact

with microscopic samples, such as in the procedures of microinjection and patch clamping.

Micropipettes are usually made of borosilicate or quartz, containing different types and sizes of

glass tubes. Each of these compositions have unique properties which will determine suitable
applications. Micropipette brands include: Eppendorf, Hamilton, Rainin, and Drummond. A small

volume micropipettor has a range of 0.5–10 µL, a mid range micropipettor can handle 10-100 µL

of liquid and a large volume micropipettor can measure up to 100-1,000 µL. It is a precision

instrument and should be handled with utmost care.

The objective of this experiment is to identify the parts of the micopipettor and to utilize

the micropipettor with high precision and accuracy while weighing different water samples. It also

aims to determine the accuracy and the precision that the students can generate using the

micropipettor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The materials/equipment used for the experiment were micropipettors and tips, distilled water,

aluminum foil, and analytical balance.

A. Testing accuracy of operators:

One of the members performed this task. The analytical balance was turned on before the

aluminum foil was placed on the pan. TARE was pressed to subtract the weight of the aluminum

foil from the gross weight in order to get the weight of the water sample. 50 microliters (µL) of

distilled water were pipetted into the aluminum foil and the weight was recorded in Table 1-1 with

value up to four decimal places only. TARE was then pressed again in order to reset the display

to zero and get the weight of the next water sample. This procedure was repeated for five times.

After five trials, the average weight and standard deviation were computed. The entire procedure

was repeated using 100 µL and 500 µL of distilled water.

B. Testing precision of operators:

Each member performed this task. The analytical balance was turned on before the aluminum foil

was placed on the pan. TARE was pressed to subtract its weight from the gross weight in order to
get the specific weight of the liquid. 50 µL of distilled water were pipetted into the aluminum foil

and the weight was recorded in Table 1-2 with value up to four decimal places only, and TARE

was pressed again. The procedure was repeated for each member. The average weight, percent

error, and standard deviation were computed after getting the weight of the water samples.

Listed below are the formulas used in the experiment:

∑ 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠
1. Average weight: 𝑛

𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

2. Percent error: % error = 𝑥 100
𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

∑(𝑥 − 𝑥̅ )2
3. Standard deviation: 𝜎 = √ 𝑛−1

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1-1. Weight of different water samples by one member of the group.

Volume Weight of Sample (grams)

of water

(µL) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Average Standard deviation

50 0.0496 0.0492 0.0477 0.0514 0.0514 0.0496 1.3472 x 10-3

100 0.1050 0.1068 0.1045 0.0944 0.0944 0.1034 5.1462 x 10-3

 500 0.5035 0.4995 0.4985 0.5064 0.5064 0.5014 3.4142 x 10-3

Table 1-2. Weight different water samples by members of the group. (100µL)

Student Weight Deviation % Error

Ngo (1) 0.0998g 4.05 x 10^-5 0.0406%

Ramirez (2) 0.1017g 1.86 x 10^-6 1.8625%

Rebosa (3) 0.1008g 9.60 x 10^-4 0.9610%

Reyes (4) 0.0994g 4.41 x 10^-4 0.4412%

Ngo (5) 0.1011g 1.26 x 10^-3 1.2615%

Average 0.1006g 7.60 x 10^-4 0.9134%

Standard deviation 9.4499 x 10^-4 1.4032 x 10^-3 0.7087%

Precision is defined as the closeness of two or more measurements from one another. It

measures the statistical variability of the values obtained. It is independent from accuracy, which

will be defined. Note that a set of values can have poor precision yet still be accurate. On the other

hand, accuracy is defined as the closeness of experimental value to standard value. It is the degree

of to which the result of a measurement, calculation, or specification conforms to the correct value.

Standard deviation is defined as the dispersion of values from the mean or average. Take

note that the greater the standard deviation, the greater the variance of the value from the mean.

The relationship between standard deviation and precision is inversely proportional. Low standard

deviation means high precision and vice versa. In the table above, all values for standard deviation

are generally low which means that the experiment was done with precision.
 As seen on table 1-1, the trials done for 50µL of water was t precisely done by 1 member

of the group (Ngo). In order to compute for the standard deviation, the average of five trials per

volume of water was initially computed. The standard deviation was computed using the formula:

∑(𝑥 − 𝑥̅ )2
𝜎=√
𝑛−1

where:

x- value

x̄- mean or average n- number of samples

The percent error was also calculated, as seen on table 1-2. The percent error shows the

difference between the experimental value to the standard value. It measures and determines the

accuracy of the calculations.

The percent error was computed using the formula:

𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

% 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = | | 𝑥 100
𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

The relationship between percent error and accuracy is inversely proportional. Low percent

(%) error indicates high accuracy and vice versa. In the table above, values obtained for (%) error

is varying. As shown on table 1-5, the calculated percent error is relatively low. Therefore, we can

consider that accuracy was exemplified by the students on this experiment based on the values

obtained.

However, we must take into consideration as to why different values in terms of the weight

of water was obtained for different volumes, when in fact micropipettors are extremely accurate

in transferring small amounts of liquids. Some possible causes of errors noted by the group are the

following:

a. Micropipettors are not well calibrated by the user

 b. Improper dispensing of liquid in the aluminum foil

c. Presence of air bubbles

d. Choice of micropipettor (accuracy decreases as you use unnecessarily large

micropipettes for small volumes)

e. Contaminated analytical balance

CONCLUSION

Molecular biology is a branch of biology that deals with the studying of cells at a molecular

basis. This experiment tackles on the familiarization on one of the commonly used laboratory

equipment, the micropipettor. The accuracy and precision of the micropipettors were tested

through using an analytical balance to which the average weight, percent error and standard

deviation were computed. Accuracy is the defined as the closeness of a measured volume to a

standard whilst precision refers to the closeness of two or more measurements to each other. The

standard deviation is the dispersion of values from the average which determines how precise the

values are. On the other hand, the percent error determines the accuracy of the calculations. The

standard deviation’s relationship with precision is inversely proportional, as with the relationship

between percent error and accuracy. Based on table 1-2, student #1 (Ngo) is the most accurate,

followed by student #4 (Reyes), student #3 (Rebosa), and finally student #2 (Ramirez). Student #5

(Ngo) repeated the particular experiment of weighing the water to fulfill all five trials. However,

an increase in percent error was evident when comparing the percent error made by Ngo on both

trial 1 and 5. A different weight of water was obtained despite the use of a micropipettor. This
discrepancy is due to some possible errors caused by the presence of air bubbles, improper

dispensing of liquid, choice of micropipettor, and a contaminated analytical balance.

REFERENCES

[1] Berkley, James. Use of Automatic Digital Micropipettor. USA. CNE. 1993

[2] Bissen, Shirley. How to Use a Micropipettor. USA. Prentice – Hall. 1998.

[3] Guare, Charles. Error, precision, and uncertainty. USA. Jornal of Chemical Education. 1991

[4] Harris, Daniel. Exploring Chemical Analysis (4th ed). New York: W.H. Freeman &

Company. 2009.

[5] Pungor, Erno. A Practical Guide to Instrumental Analysis. USA: CRC Press LLC. 1995.