Gilson PIPETMAN Classic P2 User manual

e World Pipetting Standard!
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
Do not lubricate this pipette.
The use of lubricant cancels the
warranty of this pipette.

2
1  INTRODUCTION
The Pipetting Standard – Gilson's PIPETMAN Classic is
designedandmanufactured to provideyouwitha range
of robust, accurate and precise pipettes.
The PIPETMAN Classic is a fully adjustable, air-displace-
mentpipettewiththeselectedvolumeshownonadigital
indicator (volumeter).
Eight models cover a range from 0.2 µL to 10 mL, for
many applications:
P2 and P10: measurement and transfer of micro-
volumes, DNA sequencing and enzyme-assays.
P20, P100, P200, P1000: measurement and transfer
of general aqueous solutions, acids and bases.
P5000, P10ml: measurement and transfer of large
volumes.
Contents Page
1  INTRODUCTION 2
2  PARTS CHECK LIST 3
3  DESCRIPTION 3
4  SETTING THE VOLUME 4
5  PIPETTING 5
6  GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR GOOD PIPETTING 7
7  ACCESSORIES 8
8  GLP FEATURES 9
9  TROUBLESHOOTING 9
10  LEAKTEST 10
11  MAINTENANCE 11
12 CLEANING AND DECONTAMINATION 14
13  SPECIFICATIONS 16
14  SPARE PARTS 18
EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY 20

3
2  PARTS CHECK LIST
Just take a moment to verify that the following items
are present:
- PIPETMAN Classic,
- User's Guide,
- Safety bag,
- Certificate of conformity (including bar-code sticker).
3  DESCRIPTION
Please refer to the following chapters for a full description of
the different parts and functions of the pipette.
Color-coded push-button
Thumbwheel
Tip-ejector button
Body or handle
Connecting nut
DIAMOND tip
Tip-holder
Tip-ejector

4
4  SETTING THE VOLUME
Thevolumeofliquidtobeaspi-
ratedissetusingthevolumeter.
The dials are colored either
black or red to indicate the
position of the decimal point,
depending on the model (see
examples).
The volume is set by turn-
ing the thumbwheel or the
push-button.Thepush-button
makes it easier and quicker to
set volumes, especially when
wearing gloves. The thumb-
wheel may be turned to slowly
reach the required setting.
To obtain maximum accuracy
when setting the volume, pro-
ceed as follows:
when decreasing the volume setting, slowly reach
the required setting, making sure not to overshoot
the mark.
whenincreasingthevolumesetting,passtherequired
valueby1/3ofaturnandthenslowlydecreasetoreach
the volume, making sure not to overshoot the mark.
1
5
P2
1.25 µL
2
0
7
5
P10
7.5 µL
1
2
5
P20
12.5 µL
P100
0
7
5
75 µL
P200
1
2
5
125 µL
P1000
0
7
5
0.75 mL
P5000
1
2
5
1.25 mL
P10ml
0
7
5
7.5 mL
Push-button
Thumbwheeel
Model Color of volumeter numbers
Black Red Increment
P2 µL 0.01 µL 0.002 µL
P10 to P20 µL 0.1 µL 0.02 µL
P100-P200 µL - 0.2 µL
P1000-P5000 0.01 mL mL 0.002 mL
P10ml mL 0.1 mL 0.02 mL

5
5  PIPETTING
For optimum performance, use of PIPETMAN
DIAMOND Tips with your PIPETMAN Classic is
strongly recommended. These tips, made from pure
polypropylene have the Gilson logo engraved on their
collar, ensuring that you have a genuine Gilson product.
Plastic tips are for a single application – they must not
be cleaned for reuse.
PIPETMAN Classic can also be used with the main tip brands.
Fitting the tips
TotanewPIPETMANDIAMONDTip,pushthetip-holder
into the tip using a slight twisting motion to ensure a
firm and airtight seal.
For the P2 and P10 models, a dual-position adapter (plastic) is
required to fit DL10 tips (long tips) or D10 tips (short tips). The
metallicrodofthetip-ejectoris shapedsothattheadaptermay
be clipped to it in either position.
P2 and P10 models are delivered with
the adapter in place, positioned in the
longer slot, ready to use DL10 tips.
When D10 tips (which are shorter) are
used,theadaptermustberepositioned
in the shorter slot as follows:
Pull the adapter down from the
metallic rod.
Turn the adapter through 180°.
Refit the adapter so that the end
of the metallic rod engages the
shorter slot of the adapter.
Pre-rinse the tips
Some liquids (e.g. protein-containing solutions and
organic solvents) can leave a lm of liquid on the inside
wall of the tip ; pre-rinse the tip to minimize any errors
that may be related to this phenomenon.
Pre-rinsing consists of aspirating the rst volume of
liquid and then dispensing it back to waste. Subsequent
volumesthatyoupipettewillhavelevels of accuracy and
precision within specications.
Short tips Long tips
Dual-position adapter
for P2 and P10

6
Aspirate
Press the push-button to the first stop (this
corresponds to the set volume of liquid).
Holdthepipettevertically and immerse the tip in the
liquid (see immersion depth table, page 7). Release
the push-button slowly and smoothly (to top posi-
tion) to aspirate the set volume of liquid. Wait one
second (time depends on model, see table) ; then
withdraw the pipette-tip from the liquid. You may
wipe any droplets away from the outside of the tip
using a medical wipe, however if you do so take care
to avoid touching the tip’s orifice.
Dispense
Place the end of the tip against the inside wall of the
recipient vessel (at an angle of 10° to 40°).
Press the push-button slowly and smoothly to the
rst stop.
Waitforatleastasecond,thenpressthe push-button
to the second stop to expel any residual
liquid from
the tip. Keep the push-button pressed fully down
and (while removing the pipette) draw the tip along
the inside surface of the vessel.
First stop
Second stop

7
Release the push-button, smoothly. Eject the tip by
pressing rmly on the tip-ejector button.
6GENERALGUIDELINESFORGOODPIPETTING
Makesurethatyouoperate
the push-button slowly
and smoothly.
When aspirating, keep the
tip at a constant depth
below the surface of the
liquid (refer to the table).
Change the tip before as-
pirating a dierent liquid,
sample, or reagent.
Change the tip if a droplet remains at the end of the
tip from the previous pipetting operation.
Each new tip should be pre-rinsed with the liquid
to be pipetted.
Liquid should never enter the tip-holder; to prevent
this:
- press and release the push-button slowly and
smoothly,
- never turn the pipette upside down,
- never lay the pipette on its side when there is liquid
in the tip.
If you use the same tip with a higher volume, pre-
rinse the tip.
For volatile solvents you should saturate the air-
cushionofyourpipettebyaspiratingand dispensing
the solvent repeatedly before aspirating the sample.
When the temperature of the liquid is dierent from
the ambient temperature, pre-rinse the tip several
times before use.
You may remove the tip-ejector (see Chapter 11 -
Maintenance) to aspirate from very narrow tubes.
After pipetting acids or other corrosive liquids that
emit vapors, remove the tip-holder, rinse the piston,
Table-ImmersionDepth
and Wait Time
Model Immersion Wait Time
Depth (mm) (seconds)
P2 1 1
P10 1 1
P20 2-3 1
P100 2-4 1
P200 2-4 1
P1000 2-4 2-3
P5000 3-6 4-5
P10ml 5-7 4-5

8
O-ring and seal with distilled water. For the model
P1000, by using a specic tip holder equipped with
a lter, you can increase the lifetime of the piston
(see Chapter 7 - Accessories).
Do not pipette liquids having temperatures above
70°C or below 4 °C.The pipette can be used between
+ 4 °C and + 40 °C but the specifications may vary
according to the temperature (refer to the ISO 8655-2
standard for conditions of use).
7  ACCESSORIES
To make pipetting more comfortable and more secure,
Gilson has developed several accessories:
To avoid the possibility of liquid running back into
the pipette, store the pipette vertically.
To identify or personalize your pipette, COLORIS™
clips are available:
WithTHE JIMMY™, handsfreemicrotubeopener,you
can open both snap-cap and screw-cap microtubes.
To protect the piston when pipetting corrosive
liquids, you can use a specic tip holder and lter
for the model P1000:
CARROUSEL™ Pipette stand (7 pipettes) F161401
TRIO™ stand (3 pipettes) F161405
SINGLE™ pipette holder F161406
COLORIS™ clips (mixed colors set of 10) F161301
COLORIS™ clips (red, set of 10) F161302
COLORIS™ clips (yellow, set of 10) F161303
COLORIS™ clips (green, set of 10) F161304
COLORIS™ clips (blue, set of 10) F161305
COLORIS™ clips (white, set of 10) F161306
THE JIMMY™ (set of 3) F144983
Corrosion protection kit (tip holder + a bag of 10 filters) F144570

9
8  GLP FEATURES
TheSerialNumberisengraved
on the body of the pipette. It
providesuniqueidentication
of your pipette and the date
of manufacture; Ex : AA 10369
The Bar Code on the box and
the certificate of conformity
provide traceability of your
pipette.
9  TROUBLESHOOTING
A quick inspection of the pipette may help you to detect
a problem.
YoumaydownloadfromtheGilsonwebsite(www.gilson.com)
the “2 minute inspection”, which shows how to perform a quick
diagnosis of your pipette.
Before returning any pipette to your local Gilson
Service Center, ensure that it is completely
free of chemical, biological, or radioactive
contamination. Refer to Chapter 12 - Cleaning
and Decontamination. Please use the included
safetybagtoreturnthepipettetoyourlocalGilson
Service Center.
Symptom Possible Cause Action
Pipette is Damaged tip-holder Replace the tip-holder
leaking sample Worn O-ring or seal Replace both parts
Pipette won’t Worn O-ring Replace both parts
aspirate Damaged tip-holder Replace the tip-holder
Connecting nut is loose Tighten connecting nut
Damaged or corroded piston Return pipette to supplier
Improper repair or assembly See Chapter 11 - Maintenance
The following table may help you to identify and correct
the problem you might encounter.

10
However, if you can’t solve the problem, contact your
Gilson representative.
Symptom Possible Cause Action
Pipette is Improper repair or assembly See Chapter 11 - Maintenance
inaccurate Unscrew tip-holder Tighten connecting-nut
Connecting nut is loose Tighten connecting-nut
Pipette is Tip-holder is loose Tighten connecting nut
not precise Connecting nut is loose Tighten connecting nut
Incorrect operator technique Operator training
Damaged or corroded piston Return pipette to supplier
Damaged tip-holder Replace the tip-holder
Worn O-ring or seal Replace both parts
Tips fall off or Low quality tips Use PIPETMAN DIAMOND tips
do not fit Damaged tip-holder Replace the tip-holder
correctly Damaged tip-ejector Replace tip-ejector
Ejector spacer is missing Mount the spacer on the tip- ejector
The ejector spacer is damaged Replace the ejector spacer
The tip-ejector is loose Assemble the tip-ejector properly
The ejector lock is misaligned Align theejectorlock
10  LEAK TEST
This test may be performed at any time to check that the
pipettedoesnotleak,especiallyafterperformingamain-
tenance or decontamination procedure. If a pipette fails
this test, replace the O-ring and seal. After making sure
thatthepipetteiscorrectlyreassembled,repeatthistest.
For the P2 to P200 models:
Fit a PIPETMAN DIAMOND Tip.
Set the pipette to the maximum volume given in the
specifications, and pre-rinse.
Aspirate the set volume from a beaker of distilled
water.
Maintain the pipette in the vertical position and wait
for 20 seconds.
If a water droplet appears at the end of the tip there
is a leak.
If you see no droplet, re-immerse the tip below the
surface of water.

11
Thewaterlevelinsidethetipshouldremainconstant;
if the level goes down there is a leak.
For the P1000 to P10ml models:
Fit a PIPETMAN DIAMOND tip.
Set the pipette to the maximum volume given in
the specifications.
Aspirate the set volume from a beaker of distilled
water.
Maintain the pipette in the vertical position and wait
for 20 seconds.
If a water droplet appears at the end of the tip, there
is a leak.
11  MAINTENANCE
Routine maintenance will help keep your pipette in
good condition, ensuring a continued high level of
performance. Maintenance is limited to cleaning or au-
toclavingtheparts specifiedunderChapter12-Cleaning
and Decontamination or to replacing the push-button,
connecting nut, tip-ejector, tip-holder, seal and O-ring.
PIPETMAN P2 and P10 should not be disassembled,
so you may only replace the push-button, tip-ejector,
dual position tip-ejector and its adapter. With these
pipettes if the tip-holder is damaged, the piston may
also be damaged.
After replacing any parts you should verify
the performance of your pipette following the
verification procedure available on the Gilson
website (www.gilson.com). If the pipette needs
to be readjusted, please contact your local Gilson
authorized Service Center.

12
Remove the tip-ejector (see above).
Unscrew the connecting nut by turning it counter-
clockwise.
Carefully separate the lower and upper parts.
Remove the piston assembly, O-ring and seal.
Clean and decontaminate the piston assembly.
Reassemble the pipette (refer to the figure, page 13).
Changing the Tip-ejector
Toremovethetip-ejector,keepthetip-ejectorbutton
depressed and pull down on the anged upper part
of the tip-ejector with the other hand.
To ret the tip-ejector, keep the tip-ejector button
depressed, slide the end of the tip-ejector over the
end of the tip-holder and push the plastic end of the
tip-ejector back into the body of the pipette until it
is gripped rmly by the metal tip-ejector rod.
Changing the Tip-holder – no tools required
Remove the tip-ejector (see above).
Unscrew the connecting nut by turning it counter-
clockwise.
Carefully separate the lower and upper parts.
Remove the piston assembly, O-ring and seal.
Clean, autoclave, or replace the tip-holder.
Reassemble the pipette (refer to the figure, page 13).
Tighten the connecting nut (turn clockwise).
Refit the tip-ejector (see above).
Servicing the Piston Assembly
You may remove the piston assembly for cleaning pur-
posesonly. Ifthepistonassemblyischanged,thepipette
must be adjusted and calibrated in a Gilson authorized
Service Center.
The piston assembly must not be autoclaved.

13
Tighten the connecting nut (turn clockwise).
Refit the tip-ejector (see above).
Color coded push-button
Connecting nut
Seal
O-ring
Tip-holder Tip-ejector
Piston assembly

14
Changing the O-ring
The O-ring and seal are on the piston; they must not be
autoclaved, if worn or damaged in any way (chemical or
mechanical), they must be replaced.
The dimensions of the O-ring vary depending on the
model of pipette.
Remove the tip-ejector (see above).
Unscrew the connecting nut by turning it counter-
clockwise.
Carefully separate the lower and upper parts.
Remove the piston assembly, O-ring and seal.
Clean or replace the seal then the O-ring.
Reassemblethepipette(refertothe figure,page 13).
Tighten the connecting nut (turn clockwise).
Refit the tip-ejector (see above).
12  CLEANING AND DECONTAMINATION
PIPETMAN Classic is designed so that the parts normally
incontactwithliquidcontaminants,caneasilybecleaned
and decontaminated. However, because the models
P2 and P10 contain miniaturized parts, it is best not to
disassemblethesepipettesyourself;pleasecontactyour
local Gilson authorized Service Center.
You may refer to the decontamination procedure available
on the Gilson website (www. gilson.com). Liquid must never
enter the upper part (handle) of any pipette.
Cleaning
The pipette must be cleaned, as described below, before
it is decontaminated. Soap solution is recommended for
cleaning PIPETMAN Classic.
External
Remove the tip-ejector.
Wipe the tip-ejector with a soft-cloth or lint-free
tissue impregnated with soap solution.
Wipe the entire pipette with a soft-cloth or lint- free

15
tissueimpregnatedwith soap solution, to removeall
dirty marks. If the pipette is very dirty, a brush with
soft plastic bristles may be used.
Wipetheentirepipetteandthetip-ejectorwitha soft
cloth or lint-free tissue soaked with distilled water.
Refit the tip-ejector and allow the pipette to dry.
Internal
The following components only can be immersed in a
cleaning solution: connecting nut, tip-ejector, tip-holder,
piston assembly, seal and O-ring.
Disassemble the pipette as described in the Chapter
11 - Maintenance.
Set aside the upper part in a clean, dry place.
Cleantheindividualcomponentsofthe lowerpartof
the pipette using an ultrasonic bath (20 minutes at
50°C) or with a soft-cloth and brushes. Small round
brusheswithsoftplasticbristlesmaybeusedtoclean
the interior of the tip-holder.
Rinsetheindividualcomponentswithdistilledwater.
Leave the parts to dry by evaporation or wipe them
with a clean soft-cloth or lint-free tissue.
Reassemble the pipette as described in the Chapter
11 - Maintenance.
Autoclaving
The upper part (body) and the piston assembly of the
pipette are not autoclavable. Only the following parts
maybeautoclaved:tip-ejector,tip-holderandconnecting
nut. The O-ring and seal are not autoclavable; they may
be cleaned or replaced with the one specified in Chapter
14 - Spare Parts.
Clean the parts to be autoclaved, especially the
tip-holder.
Put the parts in an autoclaving sack.
Autoclave for 20 minutes at 121°C, 0.1 MPa.
Check that the parts are dry before re-assembling
the pipette.
Setthepipetteasidetostabilizeatroomtemperature.

16
Chemical Decontamination
You may choose to decontaminate your pipette chemi-
cally, inaccordancewithyourownprocedures.Whatever
decontaminant you use, check with the
supplier of the
decontaminant that it is compatible with stainless steel
and the plastics used in the construction of the pipette:
PA (Polyamide), PBT (Polybutylene Terephtalate), PC
(Polycarbonate), PC/PBT (Polycarbonate/ Polybutylene
Terephtalate), POM (Polyoxymethylene), or PVDF (Poly-
vinylidene Fluoride).
Upper Part (handle)
Wipe the upper part (handle) of the pipette with a
soft-cloth or lint-free tissue impregnated with the
chosen decontaminant.
Wipe the upper part of the pipette with a soft- cloth
or lint-free tissue soaked with distilled water or
sterile water.
Lower Part (Volumetric module)
The following components only can be immersed in a
decontaminant solution: connecting nut, tip-ejector,
tip-holder, piston assembly, seal and O-ring.
13  SPECIFICATIONS
PIPETMAN Classic is a high quality pipette that oers
excellent accuracy and precision. The figures given in
the“Gilson Maximum Permissible Errors”table (page 17)
were obtained using PIPETMAN DIAMOND Tips. These
figures are guaranteed only when genuine PIPETMAN
DIAMOND Tips are used.
Each pipette is inspected and validated by qualified
techniciansinaccordancewiththeGilsonQualitySystem.
Gilson declares that its manufactured pipettes comply
with the requirements of the ISO 8655 standard, by
type testing.
The adjustment is carried out under strictly defined and
monitored conditions (ISO 8655-6).

17
Gilson Maximum Permissible Errors
Single channel Maximum Permissible Errors
Model Volume Gilson ISO 8655
(Reference) (µL) Systematic Random Systematic Random
error (µL) error (µL) error (µL) error (µL)
P2 Min 0.2 ± 0.024 0.012 ± 0.08 0.04
(F144801) 0.5 ± 0.025 0.012 ± 0.08 0.04
D10, DL10 Max. 2 ± 0.030 0.014 ± 0.08 0.04
P10 Min. 1 ± 0.025 0.012 ± 0.12 0.08
(F144802) 5 ± 0.075 0.030 ± 0.12 0.08
D10, DL10 Max 10 ± 0.100 0.040 ± 0.12 0.08
P20 Min. 2 ± 0.10 0.03 ± 0.20 0.10
(F123600) 5 ± 0.10 0.04 ± 0.20 0.10
D200 10 ± 0.10 0.05 ± 0.20 0.10
Max. 20 ± 0.20 0.06 ± 0.20 0.10
P100 Min. 10 ± 0.35 0.10 ± 0.80 0.30
(F123615) 50 ± 0.40 0.12 ± 0.80 0.30
D200 Max. 100 ± 0.80 0.15 ± 0.80 0.30
P200 Min. 20 ± 0.50 0.20 ± 1.60 0.60
(F123601) 100 ± 0.80 0.25 ± 1.60 0.60
D200, D300 Max. 200 ± 1.60 0.30 ± 1.60 0.60
P1000 Min. 100 ± 3 0.6 ± 8 3.0
(F123602) 500 ± 4 1.0 ± 8 3.0
D1000, D1200 Max. 1000 ± 8 1.5 ± 8 3.0
P5000 Min. 1000 ± 12 3 ± 40 15
(F123603) 2000 ± 12 5 ± 40 15
D5000 Max. 5000 ± 30 8 ± 40 15
P10ml Min. 1 mL ± 30 6 ± 60 30
(F161201) 2 mL ± 30 6 ± 60 30
D10ml 5 mL ± 40 10 ± 60 30
Max. 10 mL ± 60 16 ± 60 30
The data given in the tables conform to the ISO
8655-2 Standard.
With a precise pipetting technique (see Chapter
6 - General guidelines for good pipetting) the P2
model may be used to aspirate volumes as low as
0.1 µL and the P10 model as low as 0.5 µL.

18
14  SPARE PARTS
Service Kit 1st level includes:
- 3 piston seals
- 3 O-rings
- 1 tip-holder
ServiceKit2ndlevelincludes:
- 1 push-button
- 1 connecting nut
- 1 tip-ejector
oronlyfortheP2andP10models
- 1 tip-ejector
and 1 adapter
A
B
C
D
EF
A
B
C
D
E
F
F1
F2
F2
F1

19
P2 (F144801) and P10 (F144802)
Description P2 P10
C+D+E Service Kit 1st level F144501 F144502
A+B+F1+F2 Service Kit 2nd level F161970 F161971
C+D Seal + O-ring (5 sets) F144861 F144862
F2 Tip-ejector Adapter F144879 F144879
P20 (F123600) and P100 (F123615)
Description P20 P100
C+D+E Service Kit 1st level F144495 F144496
A+B+F Service Kit 2nd level F161972 F161973
C+D Seal + O-ring (5 sets) F144863 F144864
P200 (F123601) and P1000 (F123602)
Description P200 P1000
C+D+E Service Kit 1st level F144497 F144498
A+B+F Service Kit 2nd level F161974 F161978
C+D Seal + O-ring (5 sets) F144865 F144866
P5000 (F123603) and P10ml (F161201)
Description P5000 P10ml
C+D+E Service Kit 1st level F144499 F144503
A Push-button assembly F144787 F161281
C+D Seal + O-ring (5 sets) F144867 F161829
E Tip-holder F123608 F161263

20
EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
PIPETMAN® Classic
P2, P10, P20, P100, P200, P1000, P5000
and P10ml
98/79/EC*
on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices
comply with the requirements of the following European
Directives:
Villiers-le-Bel, June 16th, 2011
A. El Sayed H. Ledorze
General Manager Quality Manager
GILSON S.A.S.
19, avenue des Entrepreneurs
BP. 145 - 95400 Villiers-le-Bel (France)
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.gilson.com
* Annex III, self-declared
The company,
Hereby certies on its sole responsibility that the products
listed below: