pipettes - reuse or toss?

[KnightlyBuzz]

I use pipettes for distributing frozen food. I was rinsing and reusing, as thoroughly as I can, but then I started worrying about bacteria growing in the pipette. So recently I bought a big bag and I’ve been tossing them.

Sorry for the newb question, but what do you seasoned vets do?

 

[Cell]

Reuse. Rinse after using. Replace if and when I see dried debris that won't come out.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

My father is a veterinarian and he often brings me bags upon bags of tiny (like 7 ml) pipettes ant I just throw away after using. I've still got hundreds.

 

[Ippyroy]

I use until they break. I might soak them in citric acid and RODI once a month or so.

 

[Cell]

I try to be nice to the planet. No reason they cant be reused for awhile.

 

[SAWFISH]

I try to reuse them until they break or get too dirty. Washing them in RO/DI usually helps

 

[KnightlyBuzz]

Great, thanks, I’ll go back to rinsing them out and reusing.

 

[ichthyogeek]

My father is a veterinarian and he often brings me bags upon bags of tiny (like 7 ml) pipettes ant I just throw away after using. I've still got hundreds.

I read this as "my father is a vegetarian," and I was very confused and concerned haha.

I typically use them, then rinse them immediately after usage. If they start to get too gunky, then you can always stick'em in a bleach bath (make sure to fill them!) and leave them alone for a while to dry and get rid of any nasties.

 

[TriggerFinger]

I use a zip strip to feed my fish. It picks up a nice chunk of frozen and fits inbetween my egg crate nicely. Easy to wash off too.

 

[KnightlyBuzz]

I read this as "my father is a vegetarian," and I was very confused and concerned haha.

I typically use them, then rinse them immediately after usage. If they start to get too gunky, then you can always stick'em in a bleach bath (make sure to fill them!) and leave them alone for a while to dry and get rid of any nasties.

~ 1/4 bleach by volume? less?

 

[KnightlyBuzz]

I use a zip strip to feed my fish. It picks up a nice chunk of frozen and fits inbetween my egg crate nicely. Easy to wash off too.

Ha, genius!

 

[PicassoClown04]

I mean... I’ve been using the same pee cup for a year now so why not reuse my pipettes too?? I prefer a syringe just because I feel like it’s a little more controlled but I use the pipettes for water testing, dosing, and gently blowing debris/detritus off of frags and stuff, mine don’t really ever get dirty but I still make a point to wash em out and reuse.

 

[ichthyogeek]

~ 1/4 bleach by volume? less?

Whatever the standard is for sterilization nowadays. 1/4 probably works very well.