Replacing the StatSpin® VT with the TrueBond Duet

StatSpin products are no longer available for purchase, and manufacturer support is being phased out. Practices still relying on the now-discontinued StatSpin® VT 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 patient care.

Drucker Diagnostics offers a solution. The TrueBond Duet is a compact dual-rotor veterinary centrifuge that matches the StatSpin VT on maximum speed, rotor configuration, and preset cycles, and it arrives with both rotors and a microhematocrit reader card included.

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

Capacity: Two Microtubes or Twelve Microhematocrit Tubes

Both centrifuges spin two 1.5 to 2 mL blood or urine tubes on a tube rotor and 12 microhematocrit tubes up to 40 mm on a microhematocrit rotor. The TrueBond Duet ships with a 2-place fixed angle rotor as well as a 12-place horizontal microhematocrit rotor, which allows veterinary practices to spin microhematocrit, urine, and small-volume blood tubes in a single unit.

The Duet’s fixed angle rotor fits most standard microtubes from leading suppliers, including BD, Greiner, and Sarstedt. Microtubes designed for use with 13 x 75 mm clinical adapters may not be compatible, so verifying tube fit before purchase is recommended.

Preset Cycles: The Same Five Settings

Both models arrive pre-programmed with five cycles for routine veterinary testing:

Every cycle shares the same time, speed, and g-force. The only difference is how the times are displayed, in seconds on the StatSpin VT and in minutes and seconds on the TrueBond Duet. Both units reach a maximum of 15,800 RPM, 12,000 xg on the tube rotor and 13,700 xg on the microhematocrit rotor, so spin parameters carry over to the Duet without changes.

Interface: Two Buttons and Five Presets

Both centrifuges use a two-button, five-setting interface. On the TrueBond Duet, one button selects the cycle, and the indicator lights on the front panel show which preset is active.

Practices that run the same parameters repeatedly can lock the Duet to a single cycle for maximum repeatability, which reduces the potential for the wrong preset to be selected during a busy appointment schedule. Its auto-pop lid locks during a run and opens automatically once the cycle is finished.

A QR code on the front of the unit provides direct access to the manual.

Size and Weight: Drucker’s Most Compact Veterinary Centrifuge

The TrueBond Duet measures 7 x 7 x 7 in (17.8 x 17.8 x 17.8 cm) and weighs 5.7 lbs (2.6 kg). The StatSpin VT measures 6.6 x 8.6 x 6 in (16.8 x 21.8 x 15.2 cm), so the Duet sits more than an inch and a half lower on the counter.

At 5.7 lbs the Duet can be lifted with one hand and moved between treatment areas, exam rooms, and the in-house lab as needs change. Practices running high sample volumes can also keep more than one unit in service without sacrificing precious counter space.

Rotors: Both Included and Swapped in Seconds

The TrueBond Duet ships with both of its rotors, with no need for complicated bundles like the StatSpin VT. The 2-place fixed angle rotor spins 1.5 to 2 mL blood and urine tubes, and the 12-place microhematocrit rotor is designed for packed cell volume testing. The rotors are designed for quick swaps, so a practice can change between sample types without additional tools or parts.

The TrueBond Duet also includes a veterinary microhematocrit reader card, so it is ready to run out of the box. A QR code on the front panel links to manuals, additional documentation, and a step-by-step video walkthrough of how to swap between rotors.

Industry-Leading Support

All TrueBond 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 TrueBond Duet carries a two-year parts and labor warranty and a two-year calibration guarantee, with 1-, 2-, and 3-year extended warranties available for purchase within 90 days of the original ship date.

Getting Started with the TrueBond Duet

Drucker Diagnostics offers two programs to support veterinary practices replacing a StatSpin centrifuge.

• StatSpin trade-in program. Send us your existing StatSpin unit in any condition, working or not, with our prepaid shipping label and receive promotional pricing on a qualifying Drucker centrifuge.
• 30-day evaluation. Put the TrueBond Duet through your own clinic workflows at no cost, with no payment information required.

For practices looking to upgrade from the discontinued StatSpin VT, the TrueBond Duet uses the same five presets, the same rotor configuration, and the same maximum speed, with both rotors included and manufacturer support and warranty coverage in place.

To get started, visit the StatSpin replacement page or review full specifications for the TrueBond Duet.