Page 3: Microcentrifuges - Choosing a Centrifuge

Labnet Prism Mini Centrifuge

A microcentrifuge is a bench top centrifuge designed for 1.5/2.0ml microtubes and the smaller 0.2ml PCR tubes. These centrifuges can be a small as 6 x 6 inches or up to 12 x 24 inch for a refrigerated centrifuge. The smallest only handle 6 microtubes, the largest hold 48 microtubes and spin to 17,000 RPM (30,000 x g).

Choosing a Microcentrifuge

In choosing a microcentrifuge you must answer the question what is your sample and what conditions does it require? What speed does your protocol require, or how much g force? How many samples will you be spinning at once? Does your sample need to be refrigerated?

Eppendorf Refrigerated microcentrifuge

Microcentrifuges will have the specifications 24 x 1.5/2ml or 44 x 1.5/2ml. This indicates that the highest number of microcentrifuge tubes it can spin is 24 or 44 respectively. It will also have the specification 13,300RPM/16,300 x g which indicates that this particular centrifuge has a maximum speed of 13,300 RPM and a maximum force of 16,300 x g.

Minifuges - personal centrifuges

These centrifuges have a small footprint and are designed for spinning a small number of microtubes quickly. These may have the specifications 6 x 1.5/2ml and 6000 RPM/2000 x g. The mini centrifuges are for quick spins of samples. The personal or mini centrifuges have one speed and can handle only a few microcentrifuge tubes or PCR tubes at one time.

Personal or Mini Centrifuge Brands:

Labnet
Eppendorf
Beckman Coulter
VWR
Drucker
Argos Technologies

Microcentrifuge - Variable speed

Designed for research these centrifuges have versatility and a higher microtube capacity than the minifuges. Many models are available refrigerated. Most have various rotors available including microtube rotors (1.5/2.0ml or 0.5ml) PCR tube (0.2ml) rotors or adapters, and swing out microtube rotors.

Microcentrifuges will have specifications indicating the fastest speed and the highest number of tubes they can handle however the speed and number of tubes depends upon the rotor chosen.

$\"Opplanet$ $\"Opplanet$

The rotors above are for the same centrifuge. The centrifuge has the specifications 44 x 1.5/2ml and 15,000RPM/21,380 x g but, as you can see, the rotors for the centrifuge have different specifications. When choosing a microcentrifuge it is best to examine the rotor specifications to make sure they meet your protocol requirements.