3 Things to Consider when Choosing a Centrifuge Tube

3 Things to Consider when Choosing a Centrifuge Tube

Centrifuge tubes range a lot in terms of quality and performance. There are multiple factors that contribute to the overall quality of the tube that we will discuss in this article. It’s important to take into account your own requirements of a tube medical and then choose a tube that is going to best suit these requirements.

    Relative Centrifugal Force

    A centrifuge tube will have a maximum speed rating at which the tube can withstand. The speed capacities of tubes will vary greatly between brands so it is important to determine what speeds you will require and go for a tube that will be able to withstand these speeds. When looking at speeds, it is best to look at RCF rather than RPM as RCF takes into account the gravitational force being applied. RPM, on the other hand, only takes into account the rotors spinning speed.

    Pricing can vary depending on the maximum RCF a tube can handle so firstly, work out the RCF you will require and find a tube that fits to these requirements. If you are not dealing with high speeds, you may be able to choose a tube with a lower RCF to save on costs of the tubes. If you are a volume user, any potential savings on the tubes can add up to a sizeable amount over time.

    Chemical Compatibility

    Depending on the type of material the centrifuge tube is made out of, it will obviously have different resistance capabilities to different chemicals. It is important to take into account the types of chemicals you will be using and ensure that the tube you choose has satisfactory resistance to these chemicals. Centrifuge tubes are available in an array of materials such as polypropylene (PP), polyallomer (PA), polycarbonate (PC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PP is a popular type of tube due to its ability to be used for high speed applications, is autoclavable, and is resistance to most organic solvents. Be sure to check a chemical resistance chart to determine what tube will be most suitable for your laboratory.

    Volume

    Note that you should never overfill a centrifuge tube as it can cause leakages. The maximum you should ever fill a centrifuge tube is ? full. Some ultracentrifuge tubes, however, must be filled to the top to prevent collapse. You also need to ensure that you don’t underfill the tubes either. It is always best to make sure you check the product specifications from the manufacturer as they will provide filling guidelines. With this is mind, the tube you select will need to be based on the volume you will be using. If you find that the tube most suitable for the volume you are using will not fit the rotor capacity of your centrifuge then consider an adapter for the rotor. Most manufacturers will have these adapters available so speak to your supplier about an adapter to suit your needs.

    A centrifuge tube is an important consumable in any laboratory and the decision upon what tube will best suit your laboratory should not be taken lightly. Suppliers will be able to provide samples for testing prior to committing to order. This gives you the opportunity to put the tube through its paces to ensure that it performs. If you can, get a few different brands to sample and run the same tests on each, this will further assist you in making your decision.

    There are many questions about what a rapid test, swab and PCR are and how they are different. All three are terms related to the diagnosis of Covid-19. Equipping yourself with knowledge about these three things is important in this pandemic. Swab and PCR are inseparable test methods to diagnose Covid-19. Swab medical is a way to obtain examination material (sample). Swab is done on the nasopharynx and/or oropharynx. This collection is done by rubbing the nasopharyngeal cavity and/or oropharynx using a tool such as a special cotton swab.

    The collection of whole air or gas "grab samples" with commercially available gas sampling bags is a widely used sampling method in fields such as environmental science and industrial hygiene, as well as in a variety of laboratory and technical applications.

    The traditional grab sampling method with gas sample bags requires the use of a pump to fill the sampling bag in one of two ways. The Direct Method uses a vacuum pump to draw air from the ambient air being sampled, which then passes through the pump and is loaded into the sample bag. This method is easy to use but allows for potential cross-contamination from the inner parts of the pump fittings and any connection tubing. The Indirect Method employs a hard-walled, hermetically sealed box that is commonly referred to as a lung box. The sampling bag is fixed inside the lung box and connected to the interior fitting inlet. When the lung box is evacuated by a vacuum pump, the sample bag inflates and a sample is collected.

    For many researchers, selecting a sample collection kit is one of the first steps in beginning a small- or large-scale clinical study/biobanking project. Deciding how to go about collecting and storing patient/donor samples is paramount to ensuring the success of future assays, and there are a lot of factors to consider. Commercially available collection kits are a good option, but some researchers may prefer to rely on bulk collection supplies.

    The Petri dish has been around for over a decade and yet the simple cell growing tools remain a permanent fixture in many laboratories around the world. The shallow cylindrical glass or plastic lidded dishes are most commonly used by biologists to make agar plates, which bacteria can be cultured upon. They are also useful for examining the efficacy of antibiotic drugs in development.

    Finding the perfect pipettte and optimizing its use depends on a myriad of factors—some obvious, like the importance of precision and accuracy, and some more specific, like the ability to use the pipette while it is charging.