Mixing pipette

A pipetting system, comprising:

• an electronic pipetter having a vacuum source and a tip;
• a supply of pipettes, each of the pipettes comprising:
• (1) a generally cylindrical, elongate tubular body having an internal passage having a tube inside diameter, a first opening at a first end of the tubular body and a second opening at a second end of the tubular body, the tip of the electronic pipetter adapted to fit into the second end of the tubular body;
• (2) wherein the tubular body further comprises an inward deformation between the first and second ends to create a narrow slit within the internal passage of the pipette, the slit having a sloped entrance at one side thereof and a sloped exit at the other side thereof, the sloped entrance and exit providing a transition between the tube inside diameter and the narrow slit.

A method of mixing a bacterial solution comprising the steps of:

• (1) providing a mixing pipette having a generally cylindrical, elongate tubular body having an internal passage having a tube inside diameter, a first opening at a first end of the tubular body and a second opening at a second end of the tubular body;
• wherein the tubular body further comprises an inward deformation between the first and second ends to create a narrow slit within the internal passage of the pipette, the slit having a sloped entrance at one side thereof and a sloped exit at the other side thereof, the sloped entrance and exit providing a transition between the tube inside diameter and the narrow slit;
• (2) placing the first end of the mixing pipette into a vessel containing the bacterial solution, and
• (3) applying vacuum to the second end of the mixing pipette to draw the bacterial solution is drawn into the internal passage of the pipette past the slit, the slit increasing the velocity of the solution within the internal passage while gently deforming and separating the bacterial colony.