Centrifuge Technique
Some tests, depending on what is being measured, require blood and plasma to be separated. Centrifugation separates these two elements ensuring test accuracy. For example, measuring Potassium requires plasma only. Blood cells in the specimen will affect the accuracy of this measurement.
- Always place the centrifuge on a flat surface first.
- Load and balance the centrifuge. Balancing ensures that the centrifuge itself will not vibrate while operating.
For fixed angle centrifuges. Balance by placing tubes of the same volume across from each other, using tubes filled with water if needed.
For swing bucket centrifuges, the carries will be balanced when the tubes are loaded diagonally from one another. Opposing tube carriers must be identical, empty or loaded with an equal number of equally weighted samples, use a water filled tube to mate with the unpaired one. - Set speed dial at or above 3000 RPM or as instructed by Ascend Clinical.
- Centrifuge 20 minutes for fixed angle, 15 minutes for swing bucket centrifuges.