Are there any special considerations when handling PCR enzymes?
Are there any special considerations when handling PCR enzymes?
To avoid contamination, gloves should be worn when handling enzyme tubes, and fingers should be kept away from the tube opening. It is imperative to use a new, clean pipette tip every time you draw from a stock tube of enzyme.
When pipetting enzyme from a stock tube, place the end of the tip just far enough into the liquid to obtain the desired volume. A pipette tip should not be plunged all the way into the enzyme solution as the outside of the tip will become covered with enzyme, preventing accurate measurement and wasting enzyme.
Note: The retention of liquids to polypropylene tips varies with different types of solutions. Pipette tips lose their precision when liquid is drawn more than once. Low-retention pipette tips are recommended for use with viscous solutions, such as those containing glycerol.