Pipette and sealing tip

An air displacement pipette comprising:

• an elongated tip-mounting shaft having a distal end and an interior surface;
• a piston mounted for axial movement within the shaft, wherein an interior space is defined around the piston by the interior surface of the shaft;
• and
• a pipette tip having a generally elongated tubular configuration and comprising a mount portion including an open proximal end and an inward-facing sealing region, and a liquid handling portion including a tapered open distal end, the mount portion of the pipette tip being adapted for sliding insertion into the distal end of the shaft;
• wherein, when the pipette tip is mounted on the shaft, the mount portion of the pipette tip extends into the interior space between the piston and the interior surface of the shaft, the piston penetrates the open proximal end of the pipette tip and is axially movable within the mount portion of the tip, the sealing region of the pipette tip forms an air tight seal against the piston, and an air volume is maintained between a distal face of the piston and any liquid in the pipette tip and displaced by axial movement of the piston.