Liquid handling apparatus

A liquid handling apparatus, comprising in series:

• a length of fluid intake tubing having a first end and a second end;
• a compliant base having a tapered outer profile suitable for sealingly mating with a plurality of containers having different diameter openings therein, wherein the first end of the fluid intake tubing is attached to a first, tapered opening in said compliant base, so as to form an air-tight connection between the first end of the fluid intake tubing and the compliant base;
• and
• a vacuum pump operatively attached to a second opening in said compliant base in an airtight manner, the pump having a handle driving a plunger therein and being suitable for producing a vacuum within one of the plurality of containers when the handle is operated by a user;
• wherein the second end of the fluid intake tubing is inserted into a liquid reservoir having a liquid therein and where the vacuum draws the liquid from the liquid reservoir and into the one of the plurality of containers to initiate transfer of the liquid.

A method of extracting liquid from a reservoir with a liquid handling apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a compliant base, having a tapered outer profile and a pair of through-holes therein, into an opening of a container:
• inserting, into a first of said through-holes, a first end of a length of tubing so as to form an air-tight connection between the first end of the tubing and the compliant base;
• inserting a second end of the length of tubing into a liquid-filled reservoir so that the second end is below a surface of the liquid;
• attaching a vacuum pump to the second through-hole in the compliant base in an airtight manner, the pump having a handle driving a plunger therein and being suitable for producing a vacuum within the container when the compliant base is inserted in the opening of the container and the handle is operated by a user;
• and
• repeatedly operating the handle on the vacuum pump to create a vacuum in the container and draw the liquid from the liquid-filled reservoir into the container to initiate transfer of the liquid from the reservoir to the container.