Aspiration technique
Tip immersion depth matters. DRD studies show that excessive submersion can increase aspirated volume through hydrostatic effects.
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Applications & Science
Evidence for Better Low-Volume Liquid Handling
Explore application results and technical studies behind Differential Pipetting™—from 0.5 µL NGS preparation to nanoliter measurement, contact-free delivery, and comparisons with conventional pipettors.
0.5 µLNGS NaOH delivery
200–900 nLArtel study range
0.75–10 µLComparative testing
15 studiesTechnical evidence library
Application 01 · Next-generation sequencing
Reliable 0.5 µL delivery for Illumina sample preparation.
A Tufts University core facility used the DRD Differential Pipettor to deliver 0.5 µL NaOH contact-free during Illumina sample preparation—an example of precise transfer where reagent cost, contamination, and repeatability matter.
Discuss an NGS workflow“We find it easy to use and very reliable as well as very accurate at low volumes. The contact-free dispensing is a nice feature.”
Tufts University core facility · reported customer feedback
Research themes
Four questions the evidence addresses.
The study series moves from technique fundamentals to comparative performance and the mechanics that make contact-free delivery possible.
Contact-free delivery
Blastoff dispensing avoids the angle, distance, and surface-contact variables introduced by touch-off-and-drag workflows.
Precision & accuracy
Comparative studies span microliter and sub-microliter volumes, including external correlation with Artel measurement systems.
Workflow simplicity
Clean release and fewer technique-dependent steps can support faster training, easier automation, and more reproducible transfers.
Featured findings
Technique, delivery, and performance—made visible.
Selected highlights from the legacy DRD science collection, reorganized around the practical questions labs ask.
Technique · Study 01
Keep aspiration depth to 1–2 mm.
Deeper immersion can increase the aspirated amount as hydrostatic pressure adds liquid beyond the intended displacement.
Delivery · Study 04
Touch-off can add 2–3% around 1 µL.
Wick-off from the tip can introduce extra liquid and another operator-dependent variable.
Nanoliter range · Study 09
Measured from 200–900 nL.
Artel-based testing examined accuracy at volumes where technique and clean release become especially consequential.
Comparative performance · Study 07
100 points. No reported outliers.
Testing from 10 µL through 0.75 µL compared Differential Pipetting with leading Gilson and Rainin instruments.
Claims summarize studies presented in DRD’s legacy science archive. Study conditions vary; application-specific validation is recommended.
Technical archive
Fifteen studies. One evidence path.
Scan the complete collection by question, then contact DRD for study files or help applying the findings to a workflow.
Aspiration depth
Why the recommended 1–2 mm tip immersion helps avoid hydrostatic over-aspiration.
Measuring tiny volumes
Contact-free Blastoff compared with conventional touch-off-and-drag technique.
NGS preparation
How accurate low-volume pipetting supports next-generation sequencing workflows.
Touch-off variability
Measured wick-off contribution at approximately 1 µL delivery volumes.
20 µL performance
Differential Pipettor performance compared with an expert using a Pipetman P20.
Speed & ease
Practical workflow benefits beyond high-precision applications.
0.75–10 µL comparison
One hundred data points compared with leading manual pipettors, with no reported outliers.
Technique correction
A 1 µL coefficient of variation improved to 1.5% after correcting aspiration depth.
200–900 nL Artel study
Sub-microliter comparison highlighting contact-free accuracy and reduced technique dependence.
Vigorous mixing
Using non-differential mode when higher flow is useful for mixing.
Outside correlation
Artel PCS correlation with no reported statistical outliers in the study set.
Mechanism
How two piston diameters address the traditional resolution-versus-flow tradeoff.
Evidence overview
A consolidated review of precision, accuracy, speed, and ease across the study series.
Human + automation
A perspective on giving operators robot-like repeatability while preserving manual flexibility.
The cost of outliers
Why fewer failed transfers can reduce repeat work, stress, time, and material consumption.
The mechanism behind the data
Fine resolution without sacrificing delivery force.
Differential Displacement™ uses two pistons of different diameters to make the net displacement small while preserving useful piston travel. The same system can then generate the flow needed for clean, contact-free dispensing.
- Fine aspiration controlLonger mechanical travel for a tiny net liquid displacement.
- Clean releaseFlow force suited to contact-free delivery above the destination.
- Flexible operationDifferential and non-differential modes support precision transfer and vigorous mixing.
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