A clinical centrifuge is a piece of equipment that spins an object around a fixed axis. This is made possible by applying a force that’s perpendicular to the axis of the spin. While different types of clinical centrifuges exist, they all work based on one sedimentation principle.
Some of the most common centrifuges used in laboratories include:
- Microcentrifuge – These centrifuges are extremely compact and take up very little space on the workbench. Microcentrifuges are typically used in molecular applications. They come with different rotors and rotor adaptors to accommodate tubes of various sizes.
- Refrigerated Centrifuges – These are typically used for samples that need to be maintained at consistent temperature. The temperature range of a refrigerated centrifuge is between -20 and +40 degrees Celsius. Refrigerated centrifuges are ideal for analyzing RNA, PCR, DNA, and antibodies, to preserve the sample integrity.
- High-Speed Centrifuges – Among the various types of centrifuges, high-speed refrigerated centrifuges can generate high G-force to separate small molecular compounds such as microorganisms, proteins, cellular debris, and larger cell organelles. They come in various capacities and sizes, catering to different user requirements.