Q4 Equipment Check: Take Inventory, Plan Ahead, and Don’t Let Your Centrifuge Slow You Down

As the year winds down, equipment that seemed functional a few months ago might look different when you consider the year ahead. A centrifuge that still runs might no longer fit your workload, or it could be creating delays that are easy to overlook because there has not been a major failure.

A year-end equipment review is a good opportunity to take a closer look at your centrifuge and decide whether it makes sense to keep it, service it, or replace it. Performance qualification, routine function checks, calibration verification, and preventive maintenance are all part of managing laboratory equipment throughout its useful life.¹

Start With a Year-End Centrifuge Check

Before deciding what to do with your centrifuge, take inventory of its current condition and how it is being used. Start by recording the model, age, service history, and any recent repairs. Review the rotor and carriers for visible wear and inspect the lid, lid gasket, and latch. Confirm that the centrifuge reaches the required speed, runs for the expected time, and passes any required function checks.

For lab managers or purchasing agents who might not work with the centrifuge directly, input from the people who use it every day can be especially valuable. They may notice unusual noise or vibration, error messages, recurring re-spins, or processing delays that aren’t obvious during a routine inspection.

Maintenance and service records can provide another useful piece of the picture. Regular maintenance helps support centrifuge performance, longevity, and safety, and maintenance activities should be documented.²

Keep, Service, or Replace?

There is no universal age at which a centrifuge needs to be replaced. Age is one factor, but its condition, performance, supportability, and fit with the current workload matter just as much.

Keep your current centrifuge if it passes required checks, remains safe and serviceable, and continues to meet the needs of the work being performed.

Service is often the better choice when a repair or adjustment can reasonably restore normal operation. Noise, vibration, and imbalance issues should be investigated before assuming that replacement is necessary.

However, if repairs are recurring, performance and safety checks continue to fail, support is no longer available, or the unit simply no longer fits your workflow, it might be time to replace your centrifuge.

Does Your Centrifuge Still Fit Next Year’s Work?

A centrifuge can function properly and still be the wrong fit for the work around it.

Look at the requirements of your current and expected workload. What RCF and runtime do your applications require? Which rotor type and tube sizes do you use? How many samples do you process at once, and what happens during peak volume?

For a clinical laboratory, that can mean considering serum and plasma turnaround. In veterinary practice, the centrifuge might need to accommodate multiple sample and tube types. For regenerative medicine providers, repeatable blood separation are often a central part of the workflow.

Capacity is another important consideration. If samples regularly queue for the centrifuge, a higher-capacity model can make a bigger difference than one with a higher maximum speed. The goal is not to buy the fastest or most programmable centrifuge available. It is to choose equipment that matches the application and the way your team actually works.

What Should a Replacement Improve?

If your review points toward replacement, start with the problems you want your new centrifuge to solve.

If samples regularly wait for an available rotor, capacity should be your main focus. Centrifuges with programmable settings should be prioritized when several validated cycles are performed on the same unit, while simple preset controls may be preferable when the centrifuge is primarily used for one standard process.

Rotor type and tube compatibility should be considered before maximum speed. A centrifuge that meets the requirements of your applications and accommodates the tubes you already use is often a better choice than one selected primarily for a higher RPM rating.

Footprint, service, warranty, and delivery timing can also affect the decision, particularly when the replacement needs to fit an existing workspace or arrive before the next budget cycle.

Why Timing Matters

Q4 planning gives you a chance to identify equipment needs before they become next year’s problems. If a centrifuge needs to be replaced or you need a backup unit, starting the process before the new year leaves time for ordering, installation, and any required verification.

For qualifying businesses, Section 179 may allow a deduction for eligible equipment placed in service during the tax year, subject to applicable requirements and limits.³ That makes the timing of a replacement worth discussing with the people responsible for your organization’s tax and equipment planning. It’s also a practical reason to avoid waiting until a centrifuge fails completely before deciding what comes next.

A Simple Keep, Service, or Replace Checklist

Use your year-end equipment review to ask:

• Does the centrifuge pass required performance and function checks?
• Is the rotor, lid, latch, and other equipment in good condition?
• Are noise, vibration, errors, re-spins, or delays becoming recurring issues?
• Is the centrifuge still supported and serviceable?
• Does it meet the RCF, runtime, rotor, and tube requirements of current applications?
• Is its capacity sufficient for current and expected workload?
• Would different controls or programmable settings better fit the work?
• Would a replacement improve workflow, reliability, or capacity enough to justify the investment?
• Is there enough time to order, install, and verify a replacement before it is needed?

A centrifuge doesn’t have to be broken to be worth replacing. A Q4 equipment review can help identify equipment that is still running but no longer keeping up with the work, giving your team time to make a deliberate decision rather than reacting to the next failure or bottleneck.

If it’s time to replace your centrifuge, Drucker Diagnostics offers a variety of models for clinical laboratory, veterinary medicine, and regenerative medicine applications, with options designed around different workflows, capacities, and processing requirements. Our team can help you compare options and identify a centrifuge that fits the work you need to do next year.

References

1. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. General Laboratory Equipment Performance Qualification, Use, and Maintenance. 2nd ed. CLSI guideline QMS23. Wayne, PA: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute; 2019.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provider Performed Microscopy Procedures: A Focus on Quality Practices. Appendix K: Care and Maintenance of the Centrifuge. July 2026.
3. Internal Revenue Service. Publication 946 (2025), How To Depreciate Property. “What’s New for 2026” and Section 179 deduction provisions. U.S. Department of the Treasury; 2026.