Centrifugation is one of those most important methods for sample preparation. It is been widely adopted and regarded as the most effective method to separate sample parts with various densities. There are wide collections of centrifuges available for labs to select from. They are varied by dimensions, shape factor, features and optional accessories. Choosing an ideal centrifuge for your lab can be daunting task. I’d like to present you a few practical considerations when you are shopping around a new centrifuge:
- Applications and Protocols: The single most significant element to consider is the software and lab protocols your centrifuge plans to encourage. Low speed centrifuges are enough to support the software for separating particles with larger mass, like bacteria, cells and nuclei. High speed centrifuges are effective at dividing organelles and membrane fractions. The ultracentrifuges can be utilized separate ribosomes and polysomes and macromolecules. Although ultracentrifuges may be used to separate cells but they are not typically utilized to separate cells.
- Relative centrifugal Force RCF: RCF is the dimension of the acceleration applied to a sample in a centrifuge and it is measured in units of gravity × g. RCF can be calculated from the following formula:
RCF = 1.119 x 10-5 rpm^2 r
The higher speed and longer the radius of the rotor create higher centrifugal force. A centrifuge with higher RCF is more efficient than those with low RCF. However, it is not as straightforward as choosing the maximum RCF available. Cellular damage can happen in fragile samples at high RCF.
- Sample volume and through put: Laboratory protocols commonly require minimal sample quantity to collect enough sample fractions for extended analysis. Paper Chromatography times, you might be asked to process more samples at exactly the exact same time to keep high efficiency. Either case, the size and form factor of the centrifuge become important things to consider. A general purpose bench top centrifuge is adequate for a clinical lab but it will not be nearly enough to get a bio-banking center.
- Sample container: Biological Samples could be collected or processed from the containers in a variety of formats. The sample holder of your centrifuge rotor ought to be big enough to accommodate your container and allow your sample containers to fit in the holder snugly.
- Versatility: How Lots of men and women are sharing the centrifuge? Can you use it for exactly the identical regular standardized protocol, like regular blood work in a clinical laboratory or for experiments in a research lab or as shared resources in a core facility?