How much do you know about the “subhealth” of centrifuges?

　　Did you know? Centrifuge It can also lead to “subhealth”!

　　Yes, you heard right—centrifuges can be “subhealth.” They can’t speak up, so they end up “feeling angry but unable to voice their concerns.”

　　The reason is simple: it’s caused by improper operation. If we’re talking about the most commonly used instrument in a biology lab, the centrifuge undoubtedly takes the lead. It uses physical methods to separate substances and has a wide range of applications.

　　When using the centrifuge, we need to pay attention from all aspects. After selecting the appropriate rotor and setting the parameters, we should observe the centrifuge for a while. Only after it reaches its maximum speed and stabilizes can we leave. If we hear any unusual noises or detect any strange odors during operation, we should immediately apply the brake, press the “Stop” button, and, if necessary, disconnect the power supply. Centrifuge tubes must be placed symmetrically, and tubes that correspond to each other must have equal weights.

　　(1) The rotor must be selected correctly. Although with the advancement of intelligence and automation, common centrifuge issues—such as discrepancies between the actual rotor used and the rotor number entered—will cause the centrifuge to automatically stop working.

　　(2) Before centrifuging the samples, it is essential to ensure they are properly balanced. During high-speed centrifugation, the centrifugal force can be thousands to tens of thousands of times greater than Earth’s gravity. If the samples are not balanced, the centrifuge rotor shaft can easily be damaged—or worse, the rotor could even fly out of the machine, posing a serious safety hazard.

　　So to sum up: the “subhealth” state of a centrifuge stems from unbalanced weights. Having reached this point, you might be thinking, “If the weights aren’t balanced, the centrifuge’s experimental results won’t be accurate anyway!”

　　Here, the editor would like to emphasize seriously: If a centrifuge isn't properly balanced, the first thing affected won't be the experimental results—it'll be the instrument itself, as well as the safety of your samples and your own personal safety. Therefore, the primary concern should not be the experimental results at all, but rather your own safety and the integrity of the centrifuge equipment.

　　An unbalanced centrifuge can easily damage the centrifuge itself and is more likely to cause samples to break or spill. Under high-speed rotation, it can generate blood aerosols—so much so that the moment you open it, breathing in the air is hardly any different from taking a sip of the sample.

　　Additionally, there have been cases where centrifuges, due to unbalanced parts, have flown out and injured people.

　　Centrifuges aren't particularly complex, yet they're not simple either. It's essential to provide training before operating them—this is a necessary procedure. For colleagues who frequently use centrifuges, balancing is the most fundamental skill. However, if this basic task isn't performed properly, serious problems can arise. I won't go into detail here, but at the very least, the centrifuge might end up in a “suboptimal” state.

　　Actually, when balancing a centrifuge, it’s important to pay attention to details—for example:

　　To ensure balance in the centrifuge tubes, make sure that the weights of the two tubes are identical. Additionally, you need to verify whether the two tubes are exactly the same—whether they’re of the same model and size. If the two tubes differ in model or size, even if their weights are equal, their centers of gravity will still be different, so it’s best to use centrifuge tubes of the same model whenever possible. The two tubes must be placed diagonally opposite each other on the rotor of the centrifuge. Moreover, most modern centrifuges allow for a certain degree of weight difference—but a small discrepancy is acceptable, whereas a large difference is not.

　　To sum up, the most important thing when using a centrifuge is proper matching: match the rotor with the settings, and ensure symmetrical sample placement.

　　Although there’s no problem as long as the centrifuge’s center of gravity is at the center of the circle, the editor thinks that before using a centrifuge, in addition to undergoing centrifuge operation training and carefully reading the centrifuge’s operating manual, you should also ask experienced users who’ve used this particular centrifuge before about its specific conditions.