Replacing the StatSpin® Express 4 with the DASH Flex 6

StatSpin products are no longer available for purchase, and manufacturer support for them is being phased out. Clinical labs still operating a StatSpin® Express 4 will need to find a replacement before their current unit reaches end of service. Continuing to run unsupported equipment increases the risk of unavailable parts and repair delays that can affect sample processing and turnaround time.

Drucker Diagnostics offers a solution. The DASH Flex 6 is a programmable STAT centrifuge that matches the Express 4 on cycle runtimes and spin parameters for chemistry work, occupies a smaller footprint, and allows labs to program and save up to 10 validated cycles on the unit.

In this article, we’ll compare the two models and cover what labs should keep in mind when planning the change.

Capacity: Six Tubes Up to 10 mL

The StatSpin Express 4 spins eight tubes up to 16 x 100 mm or 10 mL. The DASH Flex 6 spins six tubes up to 16 x 100 mm or 10 mL using the same rotor and carriers, so accessories do not need to be swapped between tube formats. For smaller samples, the Flex 6 can be configured to spin six tubes down to 2 mL with adapters, and a 1 to 1.5 mL Microtainer tube adapter set is available separately.

Each DASH Flex 6 arrives ready to run with a patented swing-out horizontal rotor and six carbon fiber carriers included. The rotor is compatible with recommended IFUs for all common tube manufacturers, including Greiner and BD, and holds tubes horizontally during rotation for consistent separation.

Labs that require more than six positions per run may want to consider the DASH Flex 12, which spins 12 tubes up to 16 x 100 mm or 10 mL with the same programmable controls and digital display.

Preset Cycles: Matching Runtimes at 3, 5, and 10 Minutes

Both models arrive pre-programmed with three cycles for common STAT applications:

The cycle runtimes are exactly the same, and the 3- and 5-minute cycles share the same g-force of 4,000 xg. The RPM values differ slightly because the two units use different rotor radii, and since RCF is the force acting on the sample, both centrifuges deliver equivalent separation at those settings.

Interface: A Digital Display with 10 Programmable Settings

The StatSpin Express 4 is a three-setting centrifuge with selectable 3-, 5-, and 10-minute cycles. The DASH Flex 6 offers those same three settings as pre-programmed defaults and allows up to seven additional cycles to be programmed and named directly on the unit, with a digital display that shows speed and remaining spin time throughout a run.

Both units provide audible beeps at the end of each cycle, as well as indicator lights during operation. The DASH Flex 6 also uses an LED lid lighting system to prevent forgotten samples and reduce TAT. The lights turn on while the centrifuge is running, flash when the cycle is complete, and remain flashing until the lid is opened.

A QR code on the front of the unit provides direct access to support videos, manuals, and additional documentation.

Size and Weight: A Smaller Footprint for the Benchtop

The DASH Flex 6 measures 12 x 14 x 9 in (30.5 x 35.6 x 22.9 cm) and weighs 16 lbs (7.3 kg). The StatSpin Express 4 measures 13 x 16 x 8 in (33 x 40.6 x 20.3 cm) and weighs 20 lbs. The Flex 6 occupies 1.16 ft² of bench space, one inch narrower and two inches shallower than the Express 4.

Its compact footprint and lower weight allow the Flex 6 to be positioned on any benchtop and moved between locations as workflow requires. Busy labs can also use multiple units as a centrifuge array in accessioning. This eliminates queuing so samples are spun immediately upon arrival and shortens TAT.

Performance: Statistically Equivalent Chemistry Results

A comparative, third-party study evaluated the DASH Flex 6 and StatSpin Express 4 for serum preparation ahead of clinical chemistry testing. Blood samples were collected from volunteer donors in serum separator tubes, allowed to clot for 30 minutes, and centrifuged individually with a control tube at 4,000 xg for three minutes and for five minutes. Draw order was balanced between the two units and both cycle times to prevent bias.

Serum was extracted from above the gel barrier and measured in duplicate on an FDA-cleared analyzer using photometric and ion-selective electrode methods, covering the analytes reported in a Basic Metabolic Panel and a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel. Mean values were statistically equivalent for both units at both cycle times. Potassium, which is sensitive to improper sample preparation, averaged 4.0 on both centrifuges at three minutes and at five minutes, and a one-way ANOVA found no statistically significant difference in potassium results (p > 0.05). A paired t-test and difference analysis confirmed that mean values across the panel are equivalent.

The study concluded that both centrifuges produce equivalent serum and can be confidently used in clinical settings where high-quality serum is required.

Industry-Leading Support

All DASH centrifuges are designed, built, and supported in the USA. Drucker Diagnostics manufactures all of its products at its facility in Central Pennsylvania and maintains a U.S.-based customer service and technical support team. Because production stays in-house, from injection molding to final assembly, replacement parts and technical guidance come from the same team that built the centrifuge, without the lead times that come with overseas supply chains.

The DASH Flex 6 carries a two-year parts and labor warranty, with 1-, 2-, and 3-year extended warranties available for purchase within 90 days of the original ship date.

Getting Started with the DASH Flex 6

Drucker Diagnostics offers two programs to support clinical labs replacing a StatSpin centrifuge.

• StatSpin trade-in program. Send back an existing StatSpin unit in any condition, working or not, with a prepaid shipping label and receive promotional pricing on a qualifying Drucker centrifuge.
• 30-day evaluation. Put a DASH Flex 6 through your own STAT workflows at no cost, with no payment information required.

For labs currently operating a discontinued StatSpin Express 4, the DASH Flex 6 keeps the runtimes already in use, matches the spin parameters on the shorter cycles, and adds programmable control in a smaller footprint, with manufacturer support and warranty coverage in place.

To get started, visit the StatSpin replacement page or review full specifications for the DASH Flex 6.