A freely available pipetting skills laboratory manual.

Pipetting is an important skill in the biological sciences. A laboratory manual and supporting material have been developed with 51 exercises that illustrate basic and advanced pipetting techniques. A broad array of pipettor types with unique manufacturer features is covered, with emphasis on the most common pipettors (P20, P200, and P1000). A progression of tasks proceeds through single-channel, multichannel, single-channel electronic, and multichannel electronic pipettors, ending in specialty pipettors. Assessment via complex tasks rounds out the course. All labs use water with food coloring and reusable plasticware, resulting in a low cost per student, per term of less than $5. Tips on procurement of pipettes, battery replacement, and which models to avoid are part of the manual. A PDF of the complete manual is provided, and a test bank is available from the author. This material is appropriate for those interested in biological science in general, or research in particular and is designed to be used as a standalone course or as selected exercises within an established course.