Proper Use and Care of the Medical Laboratory Centrifuge
Continuing Education Credits
The purpose of this program is to supplement the instruction manuals that accompanied the centrifuges in your laboratory. The primary intention is to provide an overview of the basic principles of centrifugation, safety during centrifugation, and the care of centrifuges.
Objectives
- Recall the major events in the development of the centrifuge.
- Summarize the operating principles of centrifugation.
- Name and locate the major parts of a centrifuge.
- Contrast the different classifications of centrifuges and point out their applications.
- Convert rotations per minute to relative centrifugal force and vice versa, and show when this procedure might be required.
- Explain the process and safety precautions that should be followed when operating a centrifuge.
- Generate examples of ways to maximize the performance of centrifuges with scheduled maintenance.
Course Outline
- Major events in the development of the centrifuge
- A Brief History of the Centrifuge
- Some form of the centrifuge has been around since the:
- Operating Principles of Centrifugation
- Operating Principles of Centrifugation
- Operating Principles of Centrifugation, continued
- Major Parts of a Centrifuge
- Major Parts of a Centrifuge
- Classification of Centrifuges
- Classification and Application of Centrifuges
- Intended Use
- Centrifuge Speed
- Rotor Orientation
- Compute Rotations per Minute to Relative Centrifugal Force
- Centrifugal Speed: Revolutions per Minute vs. Relative Centrifugal Force
- Centrifuge Speed: Revolutions per Minute vs. Relative Centrifugal Force, continued
- Nomogram and Conversion Table
- Online Converters and Centrifuge User Manual
- Manual Calculation
- Manual RCF Calculation Example
- Manual RPM Calculation Example
- Using the formula below, determine the RCF if the rotor radius is 150 mm and the RPM is 1,500.
- Using the formula below, determine the RPM if the rotor radius is 90 mm and the RCF is 1,008.
- Centrifuge Operating Process and Safety Precautions
- Centrifuge Use and Safety
- Centrifuge Safety
- Centrifuge Operating Tips
- Balancing the centrifuge
- The Preventive Care of Centrifuges
- References
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory
technicians, laboratory supervisors, and laboratory managers. This course is
also appropriate for MLS and MLT students and pathology residents.
Author Information: Garland E. Pendergraph, PhD, JD, MLS(ASCP)SM, HCLD/CC(ABB) received his MSPH from the University of Kentucky, his PhD in medical parasitology/entomology and mycology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and his law degree with a concentration in health care law from Concord Law School, Purdue University. He also did a Fellowship in Tropical Medicine at Louisiana State University School of Medicine. He is the author of a textbook in phlebotomy, a number of scientific articles, and internet training programs. He is licensed as a laboratory director in Georgia.
The author has no conflict of interest to disclose.
Reviewer Information: Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM received his Bachelor
of Science and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Thomas
Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He holds Medical Laboratory Scientist
and Specialist in Hematology certifications through the ASCP Board of
Certification. He was a professor at Thomas Jefferson University for seven
years before transitioning into his current role as Education Developer at
MediaLab by Vastian. His areas of expertise and professional passions include
clinical hematology and interprofessional education.