Laboratory Equipment

There are many different tubes used in science labs such as test tubes and culture tubes. Test tubes typically handle chemicals while culture tubes usually handle live organisms. The vertical sides and spherical bottoms of these tubes make them easy to clean, reduce the amount that is lost when pouring, and allow for easy observation of the contents. One tube specifically used in biology is known as the microcentrifuge tube.

What Does Microcentrifuge Mean?

A centrifuge is a piece of equipment found in a laboratory that spins samples of liquid at high speed. There are two sizes of centrifuges. The larger ones are known as centrifuges and the samples are contained in centrifuge tubes. Microcentrifuges are the smaller centrifuges and their samples are contained in microcentrifuge tubes.

Centrifuges and microcentrifuges are used in science labs to separate material from small samples consisting of biological material. To break it down even further, centrifuge means to rotate or spin something to the point that it pulls dense objects or moisture away from the center. In other words, it isolates and separates solids from liquids in a suspension.

The particles that are suspended in the fluid are separated by a machine based on viscosity, rotor speed, particle size & density. Due to the gravitational force, the particles with a higher density than the liquid sink and the ones with the lower density float on the solution. As the rotor turns around the axis, a centrifugal force is created.

What is a Microcentrifuge Tube?

Microcentrifuge tubes are small cylindrical containers, with conical bottoms for catching the denser particles, that are ideal for preparing, mixing, storing, and transporting small volumes of purified DNA & DNA extracts, samples, and reagents. They are often used in molecular biology for freezing, boiling, or centrifuging.

What Are the Various Features of Microcentrifuge Tubes?

Microcentrifuge tubes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and material. They are typically made out of plastic, are inexpensive, and disposable. Since they are made out of polypropylene, which makes them very tough and durable, they can be used in very low temperatures or with organic solvents. They come in many different sizes although the most common size is 1.5 ml. They are also available in standard tubes or in certified sterile tubes. Like cryogenic vials, microcentrifuge tubes also expire after five years from the date of sterilization.

What Applications Are Centrifuge And Microcentrifuge Tubes Used For?

These tubes are used for soil testing, to process samples, and in medical laboratories. By mixing the soil with water, the components from the soil are released into the water and analyzed. These components will fall to the bottom of the tube and the water can be drained and analyzed.

In chemical and pharmaceutical industries, specimens mixed with water are assessed for toxins. The water sample is centrifuged for analysis. The tubes are also essential in medical labs for separating elements. The centrifugation process can extract DNA and RNA from a cell.

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