Consider When Buying Centrifuge Tubes

Centrifuge Tubes are used in a wide variety of laboratory applications. When it comes time to buy new ones, you need to consider several different factors.

Look for tubes that have large writing areas for labeling, and easy-to-read graduation marks that are resistant to chemical corrosion. Also, check the relative centrifugal force (RCF) they can handle; this will factor into pricing.

Material

Whether you're solving complex biological problems, discovering potential cures, or running a simple lab test, you need laboratory consumables that meet your specific workflow needs. Centrifuge Tubes are a crucial part of that process. They're used to hold the liquid sample that gets separated from a contaminant by using a centrifugal machine. There are many factors that differentiate these tubes, including material, packaging style, sterility, and cap type.

Sterility

Sterile centrifuge tubes are a vital tool for many lab applications, including separating cells from a sample of blood; collecting sediment or other solid samples for testing; purifying or concentrating chemicals in a liquid; and storing both short-term and long-term. You can find centrifuge tubes in a wide range of sizes, colors, and materials depending on your specific needs.

It's important to choose the right tube size for your application, as some tubes must be filled at least three-quarters full – and in some cases, completely - to avoid excessive material stress and tube failures. It's also possible that a tube meets your specifications but doesn't fit the instrument's rotor capacity; most instruments come with adapters to remedy this issue.

Centrifuge tubes are available sterile in bags of 50 (15 mL) or bags of 25 (50 mL) and are RNase, DNase, Pyrogen and latex free. They have flat-top, plug-seal leak resistant screw caps and a large white writing area for identification. They can be stored in a centrifuge rack for convenient dispensing and storage.

Capacity

Centrifuge Tubes are among the most reached for lab tools, and they need to be able to withstand strain. To do so, they must be able to handle the centrifugal force created by spinning. Manufacturers will often list the relative centrifugal force (RCF) that their tubes can withstand, and this is an important feature to look for because it impacts pricing.

In addition to the RCF rating, users also need to consider the chemicals they will be working with in their workflows. Different materials have different chemical resistances, so it is important to find a tube that can stand up to the corrosiveness of your chemicals.

Speed

Depending on the type of sample you’re working with, there are a variety of factors that will determine the speed at which your centrifuge tube can spin. Some of the more important ones include whether you’re refrigerating or freezing samples, incubating them, and what rpm or g force you’ll be centrifuging at.

Many laboratories choose to use plastic or borosilicate glass centrifuge tubes. These can be autoclaved, though their durability and longevity is impacted by how often they are exposed to heat. The materials also affect how well they resist certain chemicals, so it’s best to test your tubes before you invest in a larger quantity.

The shape of a centrifuge tube can also impact how efficiently you pipette your samples. For example, a conical bottom increases accuracy by driving sample down to a smaller surface area. It can also help reduce left over sample waste within the tube. This is especially helpful when performing extractions like phenol or chloroform.