Best Clinical Benchtop Centrifuge Latest 2020 Update.
You are currently in the market for the best clinical benchtop centrifuge your money can buy. But, you don’t really know which to get. In this article, we have made a guide on how to pick the best clinical benchtop centrifuge available.
What is a Centrifuge?
Centrifuges separate or concentrate substances suspended in a liquid medium by density. Space-saving fixed- and variable-speed benchtop or tabletop centrifuges are used for applications including tissue culture, protein work, DNA/RNA research, and cell harvesting.
Although spinning is used to achieve separation in all centrifuges, the rotor’s rpm only indicates the power of the motor. The best indication of separation power is its RCF, or relative centrifugal force. Versatile multipurpose centrifuges are the most common type, with an RCF up to about 24,000 × g, a variety of volume ranges, and the ability to spin plates.
They can accommodate different types of rotors, including fixed angle, swinging bucket, and continuous flow. Ultraspeed centrifuges offer g-forces up to 1,000,000 × g, useful in nanotechnology.
Microcentrifuges spin small sample volumes, such as 0.2-mL PCR tubes, at very high speeds. Other factors to consider include noise level, easy bowl access, refrigeration capabilities, and rotor material, which can be metal, plastic, or composite.
Things to Note When Choosing the Best Benchtop Centrifuge
With a number of choices available in the market, it is necessary to know how to select the most appropriate and best type of centrifuge. Remember three significant factors while choosing a centrifuge.
- Requirements
- Specifications
- Total cost
Requirements
It is essential to know your requirements before purchasing a centrifuge since there is a suitable and appropriate type of centrifuge available for each application. The most widely recognized applications that use centrifuge devices are medical and research laboratory tasks.
The most commonly utilized centrifuges in these fields are micro-centrifuges, benchtop centrifuges, high-speed centrifuges, ultracentrifuge, and hematocrit centrifuges. For instance, ultracentrifuges are generally utilized to extract cellular components, for example, DNA, in the fields of molecular biology, biochemistry, and microbiology.
Hematocrit centrifuge models, alternatively, are frequently utilized to divide blood components into the plasma and RBC layer.
Specifications
A few of the specifications that you ought to consider are:
- Speed and performance (cycles/minute and relative centrifugal force)
- The capacity of the device
- Easy to operate
- Reliability
The rate of centrifugation, generally known as revolutions per minute (RPM), is a term utilized by the developers to tell how quickly the centrifuge will rotate despite the size of the rotor. In contrast, the relative centrifugal force (RCF) is the force produced by the revolutions of the rotor and applied to the contents of the rotor which results in separation of fluids in the centrifuge.
The RPM and RCF forces are among the most important specifications to consider while selecting centrifuges because the requirement for the centrifugal force varies for the sedimentation of a different specimen. For instance, to accurately isolate specific bacterial cells from a specimen, high-speed or ultracentrifugation is required.
A few centrifuges have fixed speed, whereas other centrifuges have variable speed settings because of control panels or rotating frameworks that allow the user to choose a particular speed or power.
This variable-speed option and rotary selection enable the users to utilize their device for a wide range of applications (multipurpose centrifuge).
The capacity of the device is determined by the maximum quantity or volume of samples that you can accommodate inside the rotor. Benchtop centrifuges, ultracentrifuges, or multipurpose centrifuges, can fit up to 1000 ml of sample per tube or bottle, based upon the model.
In addition, a few centrifuges are assembled with refrigeration systems, which are helpful for temperature labile specimen.
Total Cost
It is important to keep in mind that a centrifuge with higher power will require a higher amount of energy to operate. Consequently, it is less energy-efficient as compared to the low-speed centrifuges.
However, a few models are less expensive and could still deliver acceptable outcomes, although not as precise as expensive high-speed centrifuges.
Another significant point to consider while choosing a centrifuge is that the device can be purchased with or without rotors; you need to purchase the rotors separately if the rotors are excluded from the model.
In addition, the warranty of the device ought to be taken into consideration in case there is an unexpected turn of events that you did not anticipate.
Best Clinical Benchtop Centrifuge
Below are the best clinical benchtop centrifuge available in the market;
Eppendorf Model 5804
Speed and performance – Variable speed; 200-4,000 RPM; maximum RCF of 20,913 x g
Instrument capacity –40 x 15 ml conical tubes; 56 x 13 mm/52 x 16 mm blood collection tubes; 4 x 250 ml buckets
Rotor options – 12 options
Ease of operation – Front panel with control knob and buttons
Extra feature/s – swing-out rotors; aerosol-tight; automatic stop
Power – 120V/60Hz
This centrifuge is best used for applications requiring large amounts or numbers of samples. It has a significantly high maximum RCF of 20,913 x g and a speed range of 200-4,000 RPM. This model can accommodate 250ml buckets, 15ml tubes, and 50ml tubes, with its four-place swing-out rotor and adapters.
Hazardous samples can be used due to its aerosol-tight rotor and lid, and the centrifuge automatically stops when the lid is opened for safety. Its front panel has control buttons for quick and easy manipulation of settings or programs such as RPM, RCF and time.
Benchmark Hermle Z206A
Speed and performance – Variable speed; 200-6,000 RPM; maximum RCF of 4,180 x g
Instrument capacity – 0.2 ml to 50 ml tubes (depending on the rotor)
Rotor options – 4 options
Ease of operation – Front panel with control knob and buttons
Extra feature/s – can be operated with swing-out rotor
Power – 120V/60Hz
This centrifuge can be used for both clinical and research applications. With four rotor options, it can accommodate various volumes of samples, from 0.2 ml up to 50 ml tubes.
An example of its rotor options is the BS-Z206-0605 rotor, a swing-out rotor which is usually preferred by many clinical laboratories. Its maximum speed is 6,000 RPM, and the user can easily control its acceleration and deceleration with the control knob and buttons located at the front panel.
Waverly CL100
Speed and performance – Variable speed; 100-4,500 RPM; maximum RCF of 2,490 x g
Instrument capacity – 8 x 15 ml tubes; 12 x 3ml, 5ml, 7ml, or 10ml vacuum tubes with adapters
Rotor options – 1 option; angle rotor
Ease of operation – LCD panel, control knob, short-spin button, and timer
Extra feature/s – electrical lock and automatic release; advanced micro-computer
Power – 110V/60Hz
This clinical centrifuge is equipped with an angle rotor that can accommodate a range of volume of samples with the use of adapters. The advanced micro-computer of the model allows easy and complete control of RPM, RCF, and time, by displaying real-time parameters and symbols to show the centrifugation process. For safety purposes, it has an electrical lock with an automatic release when the rotor stops rotating.
Ample Scientific Champion F-33D
Speed and performance – Variable speed; 550-3300 RPM; maximum RCF of 1350 x g
Instrument capacity – Eight: 15 mL tubes or 7 mL tubes
Rotor options – 1; fixed angle 45-degree polycarbonate
Ease of operation – Digital tachometer and controller
Extra feature/s – Brushless motor; manual lock
Power – 120V/60Hz
In contrast to the Ample Scientific Champion E-33 which has fixed speed, this model has variable speed settings. This model can accommodate eight samples, with volumes 15 mL or 7mL tubes. However, for 7mL tubes, you will need small tube sleeve inserts for it to fit inside the rotor, which is already included in the package when you buy this model.
BEAR C2204
Speed and performance – Fixed speed: 1000, 1500, 2000, or 3000 RPM; maximum RCF of 1,350 x g
Instrument capacity – 12 x 12ml tubes or 9ml vacuum tubes
Rotor options – 1; swing-out rotor
Ease of operation – front panel: LED display, control buttons, on/off switch
Extra feature/s – vibration-resistant design; automatic launch lock and stop
This low-speed benchtop centrifuge can be used in both clinical laboratories and medical schools with a capacity of twelve 12ml tubes or 9ml vacuum tubes (with the use of adapters).
This model has a maintenance-free brushless motor, soft start and run down, an automatic launch when the lid is locked, and an automatic stop if the lid is opened for safety. The vibration-resistant design of C2204, it will surely not disturb the user when placed in the workplace.
Premiere XC-2000
Speed and performance – variable speed; 1000-4000 RPM (adjustable in 500 RPM increments); 1790 g RCF
Instrument capacity – Six tubes: 10 mL to 15mL
Rotor options – 1; fixed-angle rotor
Ease of operation – front panel: LED display, timer selection buttons, on/off button
Extra feature/s – continuous hold-spin function; last-spin memory; auto-snap; rubber suction feet
This model offers variable speed selection with the use of the front panel to set the settings. It has a timer that can be set up to 60 minutes, and a last-spin memory feature to help you minimize the time you spend on reconfiguring your settings.
With the compact design, suctioned feet to keep it in place, and minimal noise during operation, this centrifuge is perfect for your workplace. Also, the auto-snap feature ensures safety which is enabled when the lid is opened before the cycle of the rotor is complete. The manufacturer offers a 1-year warranty.
Premiere XC-2415 Centrifuge
Speed and performance – Variable speed; 1000-4000 RPM (adjustable in 100 RPM increments); 120 x g to 1933 x g RFC
Instrument capacity – twelve; 10 mL to 15 mL test tubes
Rotor options – 1; fixed-angle aluminium rotor
Ease of operation – front panel: LED display, timer selection buttons, on/off button
Extra feature/s – continuous hold-spin function; last-spin memory; electronic lock and safety release latch; rubber suction feet
This model offers higher RFC than the previous Premiere model and also provides a low operating noise level of under 60 dB. It has a maximum instrument capacity of twelve samples of 10ml to 15ml test tubes.
With the front panel, you can set your desired settings and not worry about having to set it again for another batch of samples (if the same settings should be applied) with its last-spin memory feature.
Its electronic lock and safety release latch feature ensures your safety; the lock is triggered when the centrifuge starts spinning, and the latch allows you to open the unit if there’s an emergency. This machine also comes with a 1-year warranty.
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