COMPUTER-PROGRAM TO EVALUATE THE ACCURACY AND THE PRECISION OF MICROPIPETTES

Evaluation of micropipettes must be carried out regularly to insure adequate results with techniques using small volumes. Since repetitive calculations are necessary to evaluate micropipettes, an interactive, user-friendly, menu-driven, computer program was developed to save time and labor and to get consistent, accurate evaluations. This program calculates the inaccuracy and the imprecision of micropipettes and compares them to the expected ones. Inaccuracy calculation is modulated with regard to temperature, barometric pressure and evaporation. Statistical tests to detect outliers before calculating imprecision are included. All the data and the results from their analysis are included in a report displayed on a monitor or printed. A data files management system for permanent record and a file viewer are included in the program. Several data validity checks, error handling and data protection subroutines are included. Sample runs are included.