Aerosol Resistant Tips for PCR RXNs

[Jim Owens]

In article <C9I3Hx.Ip5 at mentor.cc.purdue.edu> Peter M. Muriana,
muriana at aclcb.purdue.edu writes:
>A question for those heavily involved with PCR: Are aerosol resistant
tips 
>(pipette tips with those built-in filters) a necessity or just a
gimmick?  
>If they're indispensible, can you suggest a supplier (in the U.S.).
>Thanks,
>	Peter

My opinion is that they are not necessary if you are
obssessively-compulsively neat, tidy and an exceedingly careful worker
surrounded by others who are the same.  Supposedly it is possible to
splash PCR products or DNA from other experiments on the pipettor itself
and spread minute amounts of such to subsequent PCRs.  It is helpful not
to use the same pipettors for non-PCR work.  It is nice if you can do
PCRs in a separate lab or in a particular isolation container.  All these
things and the aerosol tips are "safe practices" for those who have
problems with controls not working.

FWIW, MHO

Jim Owens