Discard broken or cracked tubes to prevent them from accidentally being used in the future.
It is best to label the tube directly instead of using a sticker. A sticker can fall off during the spin making identification difficult.
Unbalanced tubes can lead to permanent damage of the centrifuge and can be hazards if the rotor breaks free from the rest of the centrifuge. Balancing is extremely important at higher centrifugation speeds. Many centrifuges will automatically turn off if it senses an unbalanced load, but older ones may not have this feature. If the centrifuge begins to shake or wobble, it is off balance and you should stop it immediately.
If you notice the centrifuge sliding around or the counter underneath sagging, relocate the centrifuge to a more stable place.
If your samples are in the wrong type of tube, you may need to transfer them to the proper type before spinning.
The speed at which you spin your samples is dependent upon what you are spinning. Do some online research if you aren’t sure what speed to use.
Many centrifuges will automatically turn off if it senses an unbalanced load, but older ones may not have this feature. If the centrifuge begins to shake or wobble, it is off balance and you should stop it immediately. A small amount of vibration is normal, but excessive wobbling is dangerous. If your samples are balanced and the wobble still occurs, stop using the centrifuge and call for maintenance.
Keep power cords away from the ground to avoid trip hazards that could move the centrifuge.
If a spill occurs, clean the rotor and buckets immediately.
