Agreed.....I had a similar experience during an audit of an Asian Pharma 
company.  Outside of the US, especially in some of the developing 
countries, resources are limited and pipetting by mouth still appears to 
be a common technique.  A few years back I had a new employee (ex-US) and 
we were appalled when he started to pipet by mouth.  We quickly acted and 
explained to him the right technique and what was the proper equipment to 
use to pipet liquids.  He was so amazed that with his first paycheck he 
ordered a 12 pack of pipet bulbs and sent them back to his ex-US 
university so they could start teaching the "new" technique. 

From that point forward, the warning of not pipetting by mouth has stayed 
in all our procedures associated with the transfer of liquids........ 
Perhaps an ACS educational initiative for the ex-US, with respect to this 
technique, may be something to consider..... 

George
Director, Quality Control
GPO - Quality Assurance
Abbott Labs

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Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List 
05/18/2009 08:41 PM
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Re: [DCHAS-L] Pipetting rule




Some of the mouth pipette experience may be coming from abroad.  During a 
routine safety inspection of non-US facilities in both Asia and the 
mid-east, mouth pipetting was considered common & a time saving technique. 
A mouth siphoning apparatus was also in common use – including for 
vehicle/motor bike transfers on company property. 
 
Mike
 
 
 
Michael N. Cooper MS, MPH, CIH
Sr. Managing Scientist
Exponent / Failure Analysis
149 Commonwealth Drive
Menlo Park, California  94025
 
Work (650) 688-1760
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-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of 
Steve
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 5:02 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Pipetting rule
 
I know of one chemist who thought it would be a good idea to start a 
siphon
by mouth to reduce the volume of an over-filled solvent waste drum. I 
don't
know if it can be attributed to his being foreign or what. If it isn't 
said,
it isn't policy--I had to re-do an SOP to address this.
 
JSB
 
-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of
Barbara Mowery
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 15:19
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Pipetting rule
 
Colleagues, 
 
During our annual review of safety rules and printed mataerials, one of my
young colleagues asked me if it is still necessary to include the rule
"Never pipet by mouth." She has never seen it done, and couldn't imagine
anyone who would EVER think of doing it. I guess I could ask the same 
about
the "No eating or drinking" rule.
 
Any thoughts?
 
Barbara Mowery 
General Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator 
Physical Sciences Department 
York College of Pennsylvania 
441 Country Club Road 
York PA 17403-3651
717-815-6480
Fax 717-849-1653
 
 
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