Final answer:
Pipette devices should not be laid on their side to prevent contamination and to avoid damage to the device. This practice supports maintaining an aseptic work environment and ensures accuracy in measuring and transferring liquids.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pipette devices should not be stored or placed on their side primarily to prevent contamination of the device. When pipettes are laid on their side, there is an increased risk that contaminants from surfaces or airborne particles could enter the pipette tip, compromising the sterility of the pipette and the liquids being transferred.
This is particularly crucial in laboratory settings where maintaining an aseptic work environment is necessary to ensure accurate results.
Additionally, placing pipettes on their side may also cause damage to the device, due to potential pressure points or knocks that can occur when they are not safely stored in an upright position.
To avoid contamination, sterile pipettes should only come into contact with the intended liquids and should never touch hands, skin, or other potentially contaminated surfaces.
The use of pipette aids and appropriate aseptic techniques, such as working near a flame to minimize airborne contamination, are essential practices when handling sterile liquids to maintain the integrity of the experiment.
Furthermore, storing pipettes upright helps ensure accuracy when measuring and transferring liquids. This is because reading the volume of liquid in a pipette requires it to be held straight, so that the meniscus, the curve formed by the liquid at the surface, is at eye level.
This practice helps achieve the precise readings necessary for experimental accuracy.