Patent ID: 8409873

Claim:
A method of pipetting comprising the steps of: a) providing a pipette tip holder having a plurality of segregated compartments and a tip support member for supporting a plurality of pipette tips in the pipette tip holder, the tip support member having a plurality of openings comprising at least one opening of a first size and at least one opening of a second size, each opening in the plurality of openings configured to support a single pipette tip in an associated segregated compartment; b) providing a plurality of pipette tips in the tip support member, the providing comprising placing a first sized pipette tip in an opening of the first size and placing a second sized pipette tip in an opening of the second size, wherein the plurality of pipette tips comprise a number of pipette tips, each of which has a volume, such that the plurality of pipette tips enable a processing of a chemical or biological sample; c) removing the first sized pipette tip from a first segregated compartment; d) using the first sized pipette tip to complete a first pipetting operation as part of the processing of the chemical or biological sample and placing the first sized pipette tip into an opening of the first size associated with a segregated compartment that has not contained a used pipette tip; e) removing the second sized pipette tip from a second segregated compartment; f) using the second sized pipette tip to complete a second pipetting operation as part of the processing of the chemical or biological sample and placing the second sized pipette tip into an opening of the second size; g) subsequently removing the first sized pipette tip from the segregated compartment and using the first sized pipette tip to complete another pipetting operation as part of the processing of the chemical or biological sample; and, h) replacing the first sized pipette tip into the pipette tip holder whereby the first sized pipette tip, when placed in the segregated compartment, is segregated in the pipette tip holder to reduce the possibility of a fluid from the first sized pipette tip contacting other pipette tips in the pipette tip holder.