Centrifuge Glossary

Below is the Drucker Diagnostics complete centrifuge glossary to help you understand the terms on our website. Read the definitions below for a better idea of what we can offer, and contact us if you want to learn more.

Centrifuge

A centrifuge is a piece of laboratory equipment that separates fluids based on their density. After the fluid, gas or liquid sample is placed into the centrifuge, the center will spin at a high speed. The centrifugal force pushes the heavier materials in the sample to the outside, resulting in the desired separation.

These machines are used in academic, clinical and research laboratories to aid technicians in purifying the sample. There are many types of centrifuge machines, and each varies by design and use. 

STAT Centrifuge 

A STAT centrifuge is a centrifuge designed for speedy and accurate processing. These centrifuge devices have cycles that are just a few minutes long, leading to lower wait times for the patient and increased productivity for the clinic. Using the STAT centrifuge, in addition to implementing the Drucker DASH methodology, can cut 20 minutes off your turnaround time.

Oncology STAT

Oncology is the study and treatment of tumors. For patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments, every moment counts, and quick results are optimal. With the aid of an oncology centrifuge designed to provide fast results, both patient satisfaction and laboratory productivity can be increased.

Routine Centrifuge

A routine centrifuge is a centrifuge machine designed with the routine lab in mind. These labs often have a high number of non-STAT specimens to test at a time. The routine centrifuge machines at Drucker Diagnostics offer large tube capacities, low maintenance requirements, and a variety of different control options to enhance flexibility or repeatability as desired by each lab.

Benchtop Centrifuge

A benchtop centrifuge is a particularly compact type of centrifuge machine, designed to be used on the lab bench. Its design is characterized by a small footprint that can easily fit on even the most compact tabletop. It is the perfect solution for laboratories that have limited space. The benchtop centrifuge machines at Drucker Diagnostics are available in many different sizes and with a variety of different control setups for different needs.

Mobile Centrifuge

A mobile centrifuge is a portable centrifuge machine designed to be used outside the lab. It’s a convenient centrifuge solution for traveling phlebotomists who travel to the patient to draw blood rather than working with patients at a core site. Our mobile centrifuge machines plug into your car’s 12-volt supply and are easy to operate.

Blood Banking Centrifuge

A blood banking centrifuge is a centrifuge machine designed for the grouping, typing, cross-matching and cell-washing procedures of blood samples. It is the perfect solution for blood banks and other facilities that regularly process blood, as this centrifuge is uniquely designed for this essential testing. Drucker Diagnostics’ blood banking centrifuge is purpose built for these testing procedures with precision timing customizable to your validated cycles and an easy to use, intuitive control interface.

Horizontal Centrifuge

A horizontal centrifuge, also called a “swing bucket” style, is unique in that the tubes move from the loading angle to spin horizontally once the centrifuge is running. Tubes in a horizontal centrifuge benefit from:

  • Larger radius
  • Higher RCF
  • More efficient processing
  • A better seal

This process, in comparison to fixed angle centrifugation, creates a thicker and more stable gel layer. After centrifugation is complete, this gel layer is less likely to break due to transportation or gravity. The horizontal centrifuge has become the standard in hospital laboratories, and is recommended by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). It is particularly advisable for any sample that will be transported prior to testing. 

Fixed Angle Centrifuge

A fixed-angle centrifuge holds tubes at a 45-degree angle. This style of centrifuge is a familiar staple in many labs. While many of its features are outclassed by horizontal centrifuges, there are situations where a fixed angle centrifuge is advisable. These include running STAT Coag testing and certain specialist plasma preparations. For these highly specialized needs, the fixed angle centrifuge remains a popular machine choice.

Balanced Centrifuge Load

A balanced centrifuge load is when the samples in the centrifuge are of equal weight and distributed evenly around the different wells in the rotor. Balancing the centrifuge load is necessary every time you operate the centrifuge machine because it ensures that the centrifuge can run optimally and without inappropriate strain on the components. Here are some tips for balancing the centrifuge load:

  • Place the tubes in opposing holders within the rotor.
  • Aid in balancing by using test tubes filled with water. If the sample liquid’s density is higher or lower than water, balance the tubes by mass.
  • The masses of the tubes should be within 0.1 grams of each other

Read the Drucker Diagnostics balanced centrifuge load guide to learn more.

Centrifugation

Centrifugation is the process that uses centrifugal force to separate heterogeneous particles. Due to the principles of centrifugation, the higher density components move away from the axis to the outside. The lower density components stay in the middle.

Centrifugation happens naturally with Earth’s gravity. The centrifuge machine speeds up this process to separate particles in a test tube in a laboratory setting. The inner workings of the machine spin rapidly to generate the g-force necessary for separation.

Reference Lab

A reference lab is a facility that performs a high number of both special and routine tests. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities send their samples to a reference lab for special tests that they cannot perform in-house.

Because samples are not taken at the reference lab, it is vital to have standards across specimens and test the specimens quickly and accurately. Drucker Diagnostics has centrifuge equipment for reference labs that is durable and powerful, yet cost-effective. When sending samples to a reference lab, it is highly advisable to process with a horizontal centrifuge (also called a swing bucket centrifuge) in order to establish a more secure gel barrier and adhere to CLSI recommendations. 

Outreach Lab

An outreach lab provides special laboratory services on an outpatient basis. It allows the hospital to meet the needs of and improve the health in their community. 

Transporting samples from the outreach site to the outreach lab for testing requires care and consideration. To provide the best sample integrity for these sites, Drucker Diagnostics has a line of equipment for outreach labs, including horizontal centrifuges and enhanced specimen protection lockboxes that keep samples at temperature longer, helping ensure accurate readings at the lab.

Mobile Phlebotomy

Mobile phlebotomy is the practice of drawing blood outside of the hospital setting. For individuals who need a blood sample taken but are unable to get to a hospital or other blood draw facility (or would be greatly at risk if they did make the trip), a mobile phlebotomist comes to them. They bring the necessary equipment to take the blood draw, then transport the sample back to the lab for analysis.

Drucker Diagnostics mobile phlebotomy equipment makes it easy to store and transport test tubes on the road. The centrifuge can plug right into the car, and the lockbox helps maintain specimens at an appropriate temperature to avoid skewing test results.

Blood Coagulation

Blood coagulation, also called “blood clotting,” is the process of creating a blood clot. After the body detects a bleed, it starts a series of steps that will stop the bleeding with a clot. For those with a blood disease like hemophilia, this process may take longer than usual. Also, clotting too much may be a sign of a medical issue.

Lockboxes 

A lockbox in a medical setting keeps samples viable for testing by insulating specimens from external temperature while they await pickup, or as they are en route to another destination. With the SampleSafeTMlockbox from Drucker Diagnostics, the sample will stay safe for four hours or more in below-freezing conditions and up to 24 hours in high temperatures.

Hematology

Hematology is the study of blood, blood diseases and blood-forming organs as well as other lymphatic system disorders. A hematologist, a doctor who specializes in blood-related issues, treats those who have blood disorders and conditions, such as sickle cell anemia, hemophilia and leukemia.

Dry Hematology

Dry hematology provides blood sample analysis without the addition of other liquids because the reagents and stains are in the test tube coating. In a dry hematology draw, the blood sample goes into the collection tube. From there, the dry coating in the tube mixes with the blood sample, and the cells can be digitally imaged to measure hemoglobin, cell counts and hematocrit.

This practice is unique to the hematology analyzers at Drucker Diagnostics. Take a sample from a finger stick, heel stick or venous draw, and have results in as little as seven minutes.

Contact Drucker Diagnostics Today

Drucker Diagnostics is a world leader in the design and production of laboratory equipment. If you have questions or want to learn more about Drucker Diagnostics, contact us today.