A centrifuge machine is commonly used n medical research labs and medical education institutes. It is a highly useful equipment that uses centrifugal force to separate particles from a solution. The machine uses high-speed rotation to separate particles from liquid samples. And the separated particles are then examined by lab technicians and medical experts to obtain test results. The overall working principle of the centrifuge is quite simple.
The forces that act on particles while they’re in high-speed rotation, separate them based on their density, mass, shape, etc. Different types of centrifuge machines are available today, allowing medical experts to conduct sophisticated tests. So, the type of centrifuge machine suitable for your lab depends on the test requirements and lab conditions.
So, if you are looking for a centrifuge machine for the lab, here are some of the most common types of centrifuge machines and their uses and applications.
Refrigerated Centrifuge Machines
Refrigerated centrifuges are medium-sized centrifuge machines that have refrigerated rotor chambers. The refrigerated rotor chamber allows you to control the temperature during the tests. A refrigerated centrifuge is capable of conducting tests at a low temperature therefore, it is mainly used in microbiology Laboratories for determining the mass shape and sedimentation velocity of macromolecules. This also allows medical experts to isolate viruses, DNA, RNA, membranes, organelles, etc.
Ultra Centrifuge Machines
RUltra Centrifuges are high-speed centrifuges capable of reaching speeds of up to 1 mil g. These centrifuges are used to separate organelles, multi-mega Dalton protein complexes, and low molecular weight polymers. According to the speed, and construction, there are two types of ultracentrifuges, namely, preparative ultracentrifuge and analytical ultracentrifuge. A preparative ultracentrifuge reaches speeds of up to 500,000 to 600,000 g’s. The analytical centrifuge rotors reach up to 10,00,000 g’s. Due to their high-speed capability, these centrifuges are used in large medical research centres for the precise separation of particles.
Mini Centrifuges
Mini Centrifuges or Bench Centrifuges are portable centrifuge machines used for lab testing of samples and PCR strips. These centrifuge machines are widely used in medical research centres, microbiology labs, and educational institutions. Various types of mini centrifuges are available today, and their rotation speed ranges anywhere between 4000 rpm to 6000 rpm.
Types Of Rotors Used in Centrifuge Machines
Different centrifuge machines have different rotor types to meet test requirements for various applications. Here’s a brief description of the different centrifuge machines based on their rotor types.
-
Continuous Flow:
Continuous
flow rotors or drum rotors are highly efficient centrifuge rotors. These
rotors provide a continuous-flow rotation, allowing experts to centrifuge
large volumes of samples without changing the centrifuge tubes. Therefore, a
continuous flow rotor is widely preferred in labs where large volumes of
samples have to be tested rapidly.
-
Fixed Angle Rotors:
Fixed
angle rotors are the most common type of rotors for centrifuge machines.
These rotors have a fixed angle of anywhere between 15 to 45 degrees. Due to
this construction, fixed-angle centrifuge machines offer smooth performance,
stability, and efficiency.
-
Swing-Bucket
Rotors: As
the name suggests, this type of centrifuge machine has a swinging rotor that
shifts angles during the test. The rotor is perpendicular to the ground at
the start of the test, and it swings to a horizontal position as the rotor
gains speed. Centrifuges with wing-bucket rotors are known for their
resolution and slow runtime.