The CAPP Maestro Electronic Pipette - An Affordable Alternative to Manual Pipettes

Would you like to improve the reproducibility of your work, work faster and limit errors all while eliminating the risk of RSI?

If so, you might consider using an electronic pipette like the Capp Maestro. At $395 it is an affordable alternative to manual pipettes. With a computer controlled electronic motor in control of your pipette you can speed up your work and reduce errors while improving your reproducibility, all without risking the health of your thumb. Despite its affordable price, the Maestro is packed with features. It can mix solutions, dispense multiple times, dilute, reverse pipette and of course pipette normally.

The Capp Maestro will allow you to improve the reproducibility of your work by eliminating human error and controlling for environmental factors. As the piston is controlled by an electronic motor there is little room for human measurement mistakes. The pipette won’t allow you to over aspirate, blow out the sample too far, or draw up a different amount of sample than intended. This eliminates much of the error associated with a human using a manual pipette. The piston is also controlled by a computer that accounts for movement, density, temperature and viscosity. The piston dispenses the same amount every time, no matter the sample or who was using it. In fact, the effect of using an electronic pipette like the Maestro is so pronounced that pipetting technique usually gained by years of practice becomes irrelevant. A freshman undergraduate will produce the same results as a well practiced post-doc when using an electronic pipette.

The Capp Maestro will also allow you to speed up your work without risking RSI. As the pipette is controlled by an electronic motor and computer all the user must do is pick a program and press a button. As the button isn’t under load, the wear on the user’s thumb is negligible. There are 5 programs to choose from, they each can vastly improve the work speed of an individual without risking accuracy or precision. The best part is that they can be saved to a user profile and found again under the favorites section. Once a protocol is worked out it can be saved and used without taking time for set up.

Multi-dispensing - The user draws up an amount of sample that is stored in the tip. They then choose the volume they would like to dispense multiple times. The Maestro then calculates how many times this can be done. The user presses a button to dispense and the remaining dispensing steps are counted down. This type of operation can greatly speed up a series of repeated tasks. A notable example would be aliquoting samples into vials. While it may take 20 minutes to pipette into 96 vials with a manual pipette, an electronic pipette cuts this time down to just a few minutes as there is no need to refill the tip each time.

Dilutions - The user can dilute a sample in the tip which improves the speed of work and reduces sample and consumable waste. The user draws a sample into the tip, say 100uL. Then they draw up 900uL of diluent into the same tip to make a 1:10 dilution that is ready to dispense. There is no need to use a vial or tube that will waste the sample via hold up.

Reverse Pipetting - A special technique used with viscous solutions and those prone to splashing and foaming. It takes a bit of skill and time to get right. Normally a user should go down to the second stop, up to the resting position, back down to the first stop, then the second stop, then all the way back up to the resting position. With the Maestro, you touch the button to aspirate and it does all the work for you, the same way, every time, no skill, no fuss.

Mixing Solutions - This program can greatly improve the reproducibility of any protocol that requires mixing in a tube. The user sets the volume they would like to mix and then chooses the number of mixing cycles. Once they press the button the Maestro aspirates and dispenses the same amount with the same force, at the same rate, every time.

Pipetting - The Maestro of course does simple pipetting. The user selects how much they would like to aspirate, then presses a button to draw the liquid up into the tip. Then all they should do is press the same button to dispense. The speed and volume is always the same, so much of the risk for human error is eliminated. Also, because the button doesn’t wear out the users thumb, there isn’t a risk of RSI.

Despite all its great features the Maestro is very affordable compared to both manual and electronic pipettes. Please see the chart below for price comparisons.