Reusable lab syringes are created for precision measurements where the highest degree of accuracy is needed for an experiment. They are used differently than syringes used to administer human shots like vaccines. Lab syringes usually consist of durable materials like glass barrels and stainless steel plungers that can be cleaned with solvents for reuse. To keep your syringes in tip-top shape for accurate experiments, make sure you inspect, use, clean, and store them properly.
Inspect Your Syringes
Lab syringes demand stringent protocols to maintain their integrity and precision. You'll want to slightly overfill the lab syringe before dispensing the excess to the required volume needed for the experiment and to remove any trapped air. Despite those protocols, repeated lab usage can damage syringes, so it is important to inspect the barrels for cracks and the needles for burrs. Burrs can cause liquid loss due to misshapen needles which can affect the accuracy of your experiments.
Temperature Fluctuations
Keep the lab syringes at a constant room temperature. If you are repeating lab experiments, you will want the conditions of the experiments to be the same for each round. This also means to refrain from adding your own body heat to the syringe. For example, holding your syringe by the barrel will add your body heat to the sample. The less handling the better. This will avoid variations in the liquid measurements when you draw and dispense your fluid sample. Keeping your syringes at a constant temperature will also keep their integrity intact longer as they will crack and burr less.
Cleaning and Storage
Lab syringes must be cleaned completely before reuse with high purity solvents like methanol or acetone. Most brands will recommend a solvent that won't harm proprietary adhesives used to affix tiny parts like hubs and non-removable needles. After using the appropriate solvent to clean your syringe, use deionized water to rinse several times before using a final solvent such as acetone. There should be no residual chemicals within the syringe if flushed correctly. Dry exterior surfaces with lint-free tissue. If you use lint-free tissue inside your syringe for droplets you risk contamination and breakage of your syringe.
Many reusable lab syringes have non-removable needles that will also need to be cleaned and sterilized. After use, a small amount of liquid will remain in the needle. This will need to be removed so that your needle will not get clogged and to keep your samples from contamination. Store syringes in their original case after use.
How you clean and sterilize your lab syringes affects their durability and precision. Inspect them each time you use them. Clean them with the appropriate solvents and sterilize them as recommended by their manufacturer. For information regarding lab equipment, such as Hamilton Company lab equipment, contact a supplier.
Share10 May 2021
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