A Fully Automated Pipette and Device

Pipette Tracker is a cost-effective software solution for gravimetric pipette and device calibrations that reduces the time and resources required for scheduling, performing and documenting calibration checks.

Pipette Tracker schedules pipette and device calibrations, automates data collection during calibration tests, performs all calculations and corrections for gravimetric pipette calibrations, compares calibration results to accuracy and precision limits at each target value in real-time to assign ‘In Tolerance’ or ‘Out of Tolerance’ flags and produces all required reports. It is suitable for single and multi-channel pipettes and liquid dispensers of fixed or variable volume, as well as volumetric glassware or any other device that is calibrated using known standards. The Pipette Tracker software brings a new level of automation, organization and documentation to pipette and device calibration:

• Meets ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/EN 8655, ASTM E1154, A2LA, ANSI and GLP requirements
• Automatically schedules pipettes, devices and standards for calibration testing including those calibrated by an external calibration service company
• Automatically collects calibration data from any instruments RS232 or TCP/IP interface
• Includes a database of manufacturers calibration specifications for over 1100 pipettes
• Maintains a complete calibration history for all pipettes and devices including the traceability details on the standards used for each calibration
• Update calibration status of externally calibrated devices and attach electronic copies of their certificates
• Includes 5 modes for performing calibrations: Addition, Addition-Tare, Subtraction, Subtraction-Tare, and None.
• Corrects for environmental conditions (Z-factor) and cubic expansion during pipette and volumetric device calibration tests
• Performs all calculations associated with pipette testing
• Includes Expanded Uncertainty and Best Measurement Capability values with calibration data
• Automatically assigns ‘In Tolerance’ or ‘Out of Tolerance’ flags to each result during the calibration and ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’ once the run has been accepted
• Prompts user to perform preventative maintenance when maintenance task action limits fail after an As Found calibration
• Records list of maintenance tasks performed prior to an As Left (As Calibrated) calibration run

Improved Organization and Access to Pipette and Device Calibration Data

Information including serial number, manufacturer, device type and device location is permanently recorded into the database for each device. Pipette Tracker can also track and store information about the pipette tips used for a calibration. All test results are saved for each pipette providing a full calibration history for each pipette and device maintained by the system, which can be accessed at any time.

Maintaining a full and secure electronic record of calibration testing results and scheduling eliminates the need for maintenance of paper-based records.

Control the Instrument from the Software

Pipette Tracker’s bi-directional command feature can send any command to the instrument that it is capable of receiving and responding to these commands. For example, this feature can be used during a pipette calibration to prompt the balance to send a weight, tare the balance or even open motorized doors. Pipette Tracker includes a library of pre-configured balance, scale and other instrument interfaces.

View Balance and Instrument Interface Library

Cycle Timer for Pipette Calibration

ISO 8655 identifies uneven rhythm and timing as a potential source of error when pipetting. The standard further recommends that, when testing pipette, the test cycle time be kept to a minimum and be kept as regular as possible.

Pipette Tracker supports the standard by including a Cycle Timer that provides an audible prompt that helps the analyst to pipette at regular intervals. Because it is an audible prompt, the analyst can work accurately and precisely without having to be located right at the computer. The use of the Cycle Timer to promote consistent cycle times increases the accuracy of the calibration process.

Full Automation of All Calculations

Pipette Tracker performs all calculations in accordance with the requirements as defined in ISO 8655 and capable of calculating the expanded uncertainty of each mean in accordance with GUM (Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty, Type A) at the 95% confidence level.

Environmental variables that are often responsible for adversely affecting gravimetric test results during pipette and volumetric device calibrations are automatically taken into account. During calibration runs, evaporation, temperature, barometric pressure and relative humidity are immediately factored into mass-to-volume calculations as sample results arrive at the computer from the balance.

Automated Scheduling

Pipette Tracker automatically schedules calibration testing for all pipettes and devices in the database by automatically checking each pipette and device last calibration date stored against the current date to determine if testing is due.

Automated scheduling ensures that regular testing takes place without incurring the cost of having to manually monitor pipette and other device testing intervals.

Reporting

The Pipette Tracker software includes standard reports for calibrations, worklists, inventory , calibration history, trend analysis, barcode labels and more that are automatically installed. A powerful report editor gives users access to existing templates and all fields within the database as well as other files such as incorporating your company logo image right into the report allowing users to easily create new highly customized reports. Each report can not only be generated as hard-copy print-out but also export as a Text, Excel®, HTML, Tagged Image or Adobe Portable Document (.pdf) file.

Examples of just some of the templates included with the Pipette Tracker software:


Detailed Calibration with Graph | Calibration Label with Barcode | Accuracy Trend Analysis | Calibration Certificate