How To Choose An Ergonomic Pipette For Small Hands And Left-Handed Use
Most pipetting fatigue comes down to two things: how hard your thumb has to push, and whether the pipette actually fits your hand.
Gilson's PIPETMAN L and MyPIPETMAN Select both solve for this with a lighter body, an ejector you can set up for either hand, and a hook that takes the pipette's weight off your fingers. MyPIPETMAN Select adds a volume-locking system and personalised text printing on top.
What Makes A Pipette Ergonomic?
Three things, mainly: low plunger and tip-ejection force, a body shape that stays comfortable to grip for hours (with or without gloves), and an ejector you can set up for either hand. A pipette can look modern and still fail on all three.
Within Gilson's manual pipette range, the choice mainly comes down to PIPETMAN L and MyPIPETMAN Select. PIPETMAN L covers the ergonomics at the lower price. MyPIPETMAN Select covers the same ergonomics and adds a locking system plus personalisation, for a modest premium.
Why Standard Pipettes Cause Strain, And What Changes
A standard fixed-ejector pipette asks your thumb to do three jobs: hold the plunger position, push against spring resistance to dispense, then push again, usually harder, to eject the tip. Do that a few hundred times a day and the fatigue adds up fast.
Gilson's PIPETMAN L and MyPIPETMAN Select ranges were built specifically to cut those forces. Both use a lighter body, a redesigned hook that takes the pipette's weight off your fingers between draws, and a tip ejector you can switch to suit a left- or right-handed grip rather than assuming one default.
New to pipettes generally? Our broader pipette buying guide covers types, volume ranges and calibration. This one stays focused on the ergonomic side of the decision.
Who Ergonomic Pipettes Help Most
- •Staff with smaller hands or shorter thumbs
- •Left-handed pipette users
- •High-throughput labs running hundreds of pipetting cycles a day
- •Anyone already noticing hand, wrist or thumb discomfort
- •Shared benches where one pipette needs to fit several users
PIPETMAN L Or MyPIPETMAN Select?
Both lines sit on the same low-force platform, so this isn't really a case of one being "the ergonomic one" and the other not. The real question is whether you need what MyPIPETMAN Select adds on top.
Go with PIPETMAN L if you're equipping a shared bench with several identical, no-frills pipettes, or if price matters more than extra features. It's around $40 cheaper per unit with the same adjustable ejector and low pipetting force. Go with MyPIPETMAN Select if mix-ups are a genuine problem on your bench, since personalised printing solves that directly, or if you'd rather adjust volume by feel using TriLock's click feedback than by eye alone.
| Criteria | PIPETMAN L | MyPIPETMAN Select | Better Choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjustable Left/Right-Hand Ejector | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | Tie |
| TriLock Volume Locking | – Standard lock only | ✓ Smooth-flow or click-feedback options | MyPIPETMAN Select |
| Personalised Text Printing | – Not available | ✓ Printed at time of order | MyPIPETMAN Select |
| Colour Options | Standard blue | ✓ Multiple colour options | MyPIPETMAN Select |
| Typical Price (Single-Channel, AUD Inc GST) | ✓ From about $719 | From about $761 | PIPETMAN L |
Before you order, it's worth checking: whether the pipette will belong to one person or float around a shared bench (that tips the decision toward personalisation), whether your NATA calibration provider already services Gilson locally, and whether you need a multichannel version alongside the single-channel one.
The Features That Actually Reduce Strain
These stills are from John Morris Group's own product video, showing exactly what changes between a standard pipette and Gilson's ergonomic lines.
A Lighter, Textured Grip
Less overall weight and a fine-textured body mean less sustained grip force just to hold the pipette steady, gloves or no gloves.
TriLock Volume Locking
Smooth-flow adjustment, or a "clicker" that gives haptic feedback as the set volume changes, MyPIPETMAN Select only, so you can set volume by feel instead of watching the dial.
A Hook That Carries The Weight
The hook takes the pipette off your fingers between draws instead of you gripping the full weight, and the ejector button can be moved to whichever side suits a left- or right-handed grip.
One Platform, A Full Range
Single-channel from 2 µL up to 12-channel multichannel. Hand fit doesn't come at the cost of volume range or throughput.
Why Ergonomic Pipetting Is Worth Prioritising
1. Less Cumulative Strain
Lower thumb and grip force matters most across the hundredth pipetting cycle of the day, not the first.
2. One SKU, Not Two
An ejector you can set up for either hand means one purchase order covers left- and right-handed staff, not two different part numbers.
3. Technique Holds Up Later In A Run
A grip that's still comfortable near the end of a long series keeps volumes consistent instead of drifting as fatigue sets in.
4. Printed Text Beats A Paper Slip
MyPIPETMAN Select's factory-printed text replaces the handwritten slip under a tab that older pipettes relied on for identification.
5. An Auditable Line Item
If your lab already runs a documented ergonomics or manual-handling program, equipment choice is a straightforward action item within it.
6. Better Comfort During High-Throughput Work
Reducing sustained thumb and grip effort makes long pipetting sessions more comfortable for staff working in high-throughput roles.
Can Pipetting Cause Repetitive Strain Injury?
Yes. Pipetting is a repetitive manual task, and studies of laboratory workers have repeatedly reported musculoskeletal symptoms affecting the hands, wrists, shoulders and neck.
Equipment is only part of the fix. Keep your wrist neutral rather than bent, avoid gripping harder than the task needs, keep your elbow close to your body rather than reaching across the bench, and take short breaks during long sessions rather than running straight through.
If your lab already runs a documented ergonomics or manual-handling program, an ergonomic pipette upgrade is a straightforward, auditable action item. John Morris Group's technical team can help match a specific model to a role or volume range.
Ergonomic Gilson Pipettes At John Morris Group
Five picks across both lines, spanning a commonly used general-purpose volume range up to a full 12-channel MyPIPETMAN Select for plate work.
Gilson PIPETMAN L P200L, 20-200 µL
A commonly used general-purpose volume range, and the cheapest way into PIPETMAN L's ergonomics.
Browse This Pipette
Gilson PIPETMAN L P1000L, 100-1000 µL
Covers the higher end of routine volumes on the same low-force platform, a natural pair with the P200L above.
Browse This Pipette
Gilson MyPIPETMAN Select P20, 2-20 µL, Personalised
The micro-volume MyPIPETMAN Select, with TriLock and personalised text printing added at time of order.
Browse This Pipette
Gilson MyPIPETMAN Select P200, 20-200 µL, Personalised
Same personalisation and locking system as the P20, in the volume range benches use most.
Browse This Pipette
Gilson MyPIPETMAN Select 12-Channel P12x200, Personalised
The one for plate work, where hand fatigue from repeated multichannel draws is even more pronounced than single-channel use.
Browse This PipetteExplore More Pipette Resources
Ergonomics is one part of choosing and maintaining a pipette. See how it fits alongside general selection and ongoing calibration.
How To Choose A Pipette
Our broader buying guide covers pipette types, volume ranges and calibration alongside ergonomics.
Read The Buying GuidePipette Calibration Australia (NATA)
An ergonomic pipette still needs regular NATA-accredited calibration to keep its accuracy traceable.
Read The Calibration GuideWhy Accurate Pipette Calibration Matters
A comfortable pipette that's out of calibration still gives unreliable results. Here's why regular checks matter.
Read MoreErgonomic Pipette FAQs
What Makes A Pipette Ergonomic?
Low plunger and tip-ejection force, a comfortable and grippable body shape and texture, a finger hook that offloads the pipette's weight, and an ejector that can be set up for left- or right-handed use.
What Is The Best Pipette For Small Hands?
PIPETMAN L and MyPIPETMAN Select can be particularly suitable for users with smaller hands or shorter thumbs, thanks to their lighter body, redesigned hook and lower pipetting and ejection forces.
Are There Pipettes Designed For Left-Handed Users?
Yes. Both PIPETMAN L and MyPIPETMAN Select have an adjustable tip ejector that can be configured for either a left- or right-handed grip, rather than assuming one default hand.
What Is The Gilson MyPIPETMAN?
MyPIPETMAN Select is Gilson's personalisable ergonomic pipette line, built on the same low-force platform as PIPETMAN L, with the added TriLock volume-locking system, colour options and personalised text printing available at the time of order.
What Is The Difference Between PIPETMAN L And MyPIPETMAN Select?
Both share the same ergonomic design, low pipetting force and adjustable left/right-hand ejector. MyPIPETMAN Select adds the TriLock locking system, a choice of colours and personalised text printing, for a modestly higher price.
Can I Get My Pipette Engraved Or Personalised?
Yes, on the MyPIPETMAN Select range. Text such as a name, laboratory or process is printed on the body at the time of order, rather than relying on a paper label or a written slip under a tab as on older models.
Can Pipetting Cause Repetitive Strain Injury?
Yes. Pipetting is a repetitive manual task, and studies of laboratory workers have repeatedly reported musculoskeletal symptoms affecting the hands, wrists, shoulders and neck. Choosing a lower-force, ergonomic pipette and using good technique both help reduce that risk.
Are Ergonomic Pipettes Fully Autoclavable?
Gilson's PIPETMAN L and MyPIPETMAN Select models are fully autoclavable without disassembly, which simplifies routine decontamination compared with pipettes that need to be taken apart first.
Need Help Choosing The Right Ergonomic Pipette?
Talk to John Morris Group about PIPETMAN L and MyPIPETMAN Select pipettes for small hands, left-handed use and high-throughput laboratory work.
Contact UsCall 1300 501 555 or contact John Morris Group for quotation and technical support.
