Centrifugation technology is mainly used for the separation and preparation of various biological samples. As an indispensable consumable for centrifugation experiments, centrifuge tubes have different quality and performance, and the differences are also very large.
So what factors should we pay attention to when choosing centrifuge tubes?
When choosing suitable laboratory disposable centrifuge tubes, you need to consider the following important factors:
1. Centrifuge tube capacity
According to the experimental needs, choose centrifuge tubes of different capacities. Common capacities include micro-volume 0.65 mL, 1.5 mL, and regular capacities of 2 mL, 15 mL, 50 mL, etc. When choosing, you should ensure that the centrifuge tube can accommodate enough samples.
It should be noted that when using centrifuge tubes, in order to prevent leakage, the amount of liquid added to the tube should not exceed 2/3 of the centrifuge tube as much as possible. (Note: During ultracentrifugation, the centrifuge tube liquid must be filled, because ultracentrifugation requires high vacuum, and filling it up can avoid deformation of the centrifuge tube.)
2. Centrifuge tube material
Common centrifuge tube materials include polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc. PP material is resistant to high temperature and chemical corrosion, suitable for most conventional centrifugation, and has the best performance among the three. PC material has high transparency, but cannot tolerate extremely low or high temperatures, nor is it suitable for strong acid and alkali solutions.
In addition, plastic centrifuge tubes are disposable and are not recommended for recycling, otherwise the experimental results will be inaccurate.
3. Centrifugal performance
When choosing a suitable centrifuge tube, its maximum allowable relative centrifugal force (RCF or x g) should be considered to ensure that the centrifuge tube can adapt to the centrifugal conditions required for the experiment and will not break under the specified conditions.
4. Sterility and traceability
For biological experiments, sterile, DNase-free and RNase-free products are required to avoid sample contamination. For GMP laboratories or research institutions, centrifuge tubes may need detailed information such as batch number, production date, expiration date, etc. to ensure compliance with relevant regulatory requirements.
5. Sealing and adaptability
Ensure that the centrifuge tube is well sealed and has reliable thread tightening or plug-in caps to avoid liquid leakage during centrifugation.
At the same time, ensure that the centrifuge tube is compatible with the existing centrifuge rotor in the laboratory, and the size and design are suitable for the centrifuge slot.
Post time: Jun-04-2024