Quality Control Services
Quality Control Services (QCS), Inc. is ISO 17025 accredited for pipette calibration with the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) under Certificate 1550.01 (Certificate available here).
With over 20 years of pipette preventive maintenance and calibration expertise, QCS provides extensive calibration services that follow GMP/GLP, ISO guidelines, as well as meet the diverse laboratory requirements of our customers. Whether you’re in the Life Sciences, Bio-Tech, Pharmaceutical, Academia, or other fields; our calibration service offerings maximize bench time, while minimizing down-time.
Calibration Service Offerings:
Our three most popular preventive maintenance and calibration service offerings include:
- Certificate of Calibration (COC): Is a customer friendly option that provides reassurance that your pipettes are performing optimally, accurately and precisely. Includes As Found (2 x 3), inspection, preventive maintenance, and As Left (2 x 5).
- Certificate w/ Data (CWD): Provides end users with tangible data and increased confidence with how your pipettes are performing accuracy & precision wise. Includes As Found (2 x 3), inspection, preventive maintenance, and As Left (2 x 5), with data.
- Certificate w/ Data & Uncertainty (A2LA): Provides end users with the highest pipette confidence in accuracy, precision, & measurement of uncertainty. Includes As Found (3 x 3), inspection, preventive maintenance, and As Left (3 x 10), with data.
| Level of Service Provided |
Certificate of Calibration (COC) |
Certificate with Data (CWD) |
A2LA with Data & Uncertainty (A2LA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| As Found Measurements | Data: NO 2x3 |
Data: YES 2x3 |
Data: YES 3x3 |
| Inspection & Functional Checks |
YES | YES | YES |
| Liquid Leak Testing |
YES | YES | YES |
| Preventive Maintenance* |
YES | YES | YES |
| Repairs: if needed, Most Models* |
YES | YES | YES |
| As Left Measurements |
Data: NO 2x3 |
Data: YES 2x5 |
Data: YES 3x10 |
| Calibration Certificate |
YES | YES | YES |
| Affixed Calibration Sticker |
YES | YES | YES |
* Inspection & preventive maintenance (PM) include the inspection, functional tests, liquid leak check, cleaning, replacement, and lubrication of the liquid end components as needed with manufacturer parts and lubricant(s). Repairs and replacement of some parts may be at an additional charge with customer’s approval.
2024 Pipette Calibration Pricing & Optional Services:
| Pipette | Service Offering | As Found | Inspection & PM* | As Left | List Price* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Ch. |
Certificate of Calibration (COC) |
2x3 No Data |
YES | 2x5 No Data |
$55.00 |
| 8-Ch Multi |
Certificate of Calibration (COC) |
2x3 No Data |
YES | 2x5 No Data |
$90.00 |
| 12-Ch Multi |
Certificate of Calibration (COC) |
2x3 No Data |
YES | 2x5 No Data |
$110.00 |
| Single Ch. |
Certificate w/ Data (CWD) |
2x3 | YES | 2x5 | $65.00 |
| 8-Ch Multi |
Certificate w/ Data (CWD) |
2x3 | YES | 2x5 | $100.00 |
| 12-Ch Multi |
Certificate w/ Data (CWD) |
2x3 | YES | 2x5 | $120.00 |
| Single Ch. |
Certificate w/ Data & Unc.(A2LA) |
3x3 | YES | 3x10 | $75.00 |
| 8-Ch Multi |
Certificate w/ Data & Unc.(A2LA) |
3x3 | YES | 3x10 | $110.00 |
| 12-Ch Multi |
Certificate w/ Data & Unc.(A2LA) |
3x3 | YES | 3x10 | $130.00 |
| Optional Services |
|---|
| Cat No. | Description | List Price |
|---|---|---|
| DNA- Away |
Full External Cleaning Of The Pipette w/ DNA-Away Upon Completion of Preventive Maintenance & As Left Measurement Processes |
$15.00 Per Pipette |
| RNase- Away |
Full External Cleaning Of The Pipette w/ RNase-Away Upon Completion of Preventive Maintenance & As Left Measurement Processes |
$15.00 Per Pipette |
| DNA & RNase |
Full External Cleaning Of The Pipette w/ DNA-Away and RNase-Away Upon Completion of Preventive Maintenance & As Left Measurement Processes |
$25.00 Per Pipette |
| 24 Hr TAT |
When Scheduled In Advance w/ QCS, Pipettes will be Serviced, Calibrated, & Returned Within 24 Hours Upon Receipt at Our Facility. |
$15.00 Per Pipette |
* Inspection & preventive maintenance (PM) include the inspection, functional tests, liquid leak check, cleaning, replacement and lubrication of the liquid end components as needed with manufacturer parts and lubricant(s). Repairs and replacement of some parts may be at an additional charge with customer’s approval.
Quantity discounts may apply for 16> pipettes sent in for calibration.
We reserve the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions. Prices subject to change without notice
8 and 12 Channel Multichannel Pipettes: Receive full As Found and As Left data on the 1st channel. All remaining channels, receive three measurements at nominal, with the mean reported on the calibration certificate for each specific channel.
Full Gravimetric Evaluation on Every 8 or 12 Channel Pipette: Contact QCS for pricing and availability. Each 8 or 12 channel pipette will receive individual As Found and As Left measurements on every channel as if it were a single channel pipette, based on the calibration service selected (i.e: As Found 2x3 or 3x3. As Left 2x5 or 3x10).
Return & Decon Form - click here -
When sending pipettes into Quality Control Services, please complete the writeable pdf form, or print and complete manually. Please ensure that the pipette decontamination box is checked and a signature provided to avoid turnaround delays. Our ship to address is:
Quality Control Services, Inc.
Attn: Pipette Service
2340 SE 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214
Pipette DNA & RNase Cleaning:
For those customers that want added extra protection from DNA, DNase, and RNase, QCS offers an optional DNA-Away and/or RNase-Away external pipette cleaning. Upon completion of preventive maintenance our service personnel will clean internally and externally the pipette shaft with DNA-Away, and/or RNase-Away, as well as externally wipe the entire exterior of your pipette with DNA-Away and/or RNase Away. The pipette will be placed in a sealed Ziploc bag and externally cleaned one last time after completion of the As Left process. Optional Add on is $15 for either DNA-Away or RNase-Away, or $25 for both.
Turn-Around-Time (TAT):
On most occasions, pipettes are received, processed, and calibrated within in two-four (2-4) business days upon receipt at QCS. If an uncommon delay is encountered or anticipated, QCS will contact the customer promptly. Pipettes received after 12:00PM PT, will be received on the next business day.
- Expedited Service: Quality Control Services, Inc. offers a 24-hour expedited calibration service when scheduled in advanced. Please contact QCS at 1-800-843-1237 x 317 for scheduling, details, and approval. Limited to 15 single channel pipettes or 5 Multichannel pipettes. An additional charge of $15.00 will be added per pipette to cover expedited service.
Note: Pipettes sent in for expedited service without obtaining advanced QCS approval, may not be returned within 24-hours.
Depot and Field Service:
Quality Control Services offers both in-house (depot) and field service calibration. Our in-house temperature and humidity controlled calibration lab provides national calibration services from coast-to-coast. With most calibration services completed within 2-4 business days.
Our field service pipette calibration proudly serves the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and some parts of Northern California. Please contact QCS at 1-800-843-1237 x 317 for more details. Field service is subject to availability and minimum pipette requirements.
Pipette Forms:Do You Know:
Not maintaining the recommended tip immersion depth during the aspiration of liquids, can have a significant effect on your results?
Adopting industry-wide recommended tip immersion depths, can improve accuracy up to 5%, especially with micro-volume pipettes. Recommended tip immersion depths are as follows:
- 2 µL-10 µL = 1 mm
- 20 µL-100 µL = 2-3 mm
- 200 µL-1000 µL = 3-6 mm
- 5 mL-10 mL = 6-10 mm
- 20 mL - up = 10-14 mm