FAQ

A centrifuge is a laboratory equipment used for the separation of heterogeneous mixtures or samples.

Centrifugation process can be employed to separate particles or macromolecules like cells, sub-cellular components, proteins, and nucleic acids. The particles are separated from a solution according to their size, shape, density, the viscosity of the medium, and rotor speed. Various separation technique can be done using a laboratory centrifuge. Basic applications include sample pelleting, sample separation, sedimentation and preparation, and blood/urine testing.

Centrifuge work by spinning the samples loaded in a rotor at high speed. It undergoes a centrifugation process which involves the use of centrifugal force for the separation of particles or macromolecules.

Centrifugal foce is the apparent force used in centrifuge that draws a rotating body away from the center of rotation. The substance within the solution will be deposited to the bottom of the vessel thru the action of this force.

Swing-out/ swing-bucket, fixed-angle, microtiter plate rotor, PCR strip rotor, hematocrit rotor

No. Rotors have different maximum rcf/rpm. The fixed-angle rotors maximum speed is 15000 rpm /21380 x g (for MCV & MCR), 15000 rpm/21382 x g (for TCV), and 16000 rpm/24,320 x g (for TCR). The automatic rotor recognition system is only available for tabletop centrifuges.

The external body of Versati™ Centrifuges are made of electro-galvanized steel with antimicrobial coating. Most of the rotors and rotor lids are made of aluminum. Transparent rotor lids, caps, rotors, and buckets/ adapters are made of polycarbonate or polypropylene.

No. As of now, the maximum capacity of Esco Versati™ tabletop centrifuge is 1500 ml only.

Yes, for hospital use in centrifugation of blood and urine, we have rotor (VST-ROT-014) for tabletop centrifuge models with a tube capacity of 30 x 15 ml, maximum speed at 4500 rpm.

In fixed-angle rotors, it is acceptable if the rotors are not filled totally with either tubes/adapters as long as the weight of the samples are equal and is placed symmetrically. But, in swing-bucket rotors, it is necessary to put all the buckets/adapters in the carriers and load the samples in the bucket/adapter diagonally with equal weight.

The refrigerated centrifuge is best used when handling temperature-sensitive samples such as DNAs, RNAs, proteins and blood.

Relative Centrifugal Force (RCF) is measured in force x gravity or g-force. It is the force exerted on the contents of the rotor, resulting from the revolutions of the rotor. On the other hand, Revolutions per Minute (RPM) is describe as the speed of the centrifuge. The force applied to the contents varies by the size of the centrifuge rotor. RCF, not RPM, separates aqueous solutions in the centrifuge.

No, they may cause material damages and impair mechanical resistance.

The differences between micro centrifuge and tabletop centrifuge are the following: 

1) Micro centrifuge can load a maximum volume of 88 ml while tabletop centrifuge can have a volume of up to 1500 ml.

2) The type of rotor that can be used for micro centrifuge is fixed-angled rotors only while for tabletop centrifuge, swing-out rotors and fixed-angled rotors can be used.

 3) Tabletop centrifuge has a rotor auto-recognition system, no need for manual setting of rotor type. On the other hand, micro centrifuge does not have an automatic rotor detection system, so there is a need for manual setting of rotor type.

The differences between micro centrifuge and tabletop centrifuge are the following: 

1) Micro centrifuge can load a maximum volume of 88 ml while tabletop centrifuge can have a volume of up to 1500 ml.

2) The type of rotor that can be used for micro centrifuge is fixed-angled rotors only while for tabletop centrifuge, swing-out rotors and fixed-angled rotors can be used.

 3) Tabletop centrifuge has a rotor auto-recognition system, no need for manual setting of rotor type. On the other hand, micro centrifuge does not have an automatic rotor detection system, so there is a need for manual setting of rotor type.

According to WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual 4th Edition, the actual risk of a given scenario is influenced not only by the agent being handled, but also by the procedure being performed and the competency of the laboratory personnel engaging in the laboratory activity.

Risk Groups are classifications that describe the relative hazard posed by infectious agents or toxins in the laboratory.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines the risk groups as:

• WHO Risk Group 1- no or low individual and community risk
• WHO Risk Group 2- moderate individual risk, low community risk
• WHO Risk Group 3- high individual risk, low community risk
• WHO Risk Group 4- high individual and community risk

Biosafety cabinets are recertified on an annual basis and/or whenever they are moved.

According to the WHO Laboratory biosafety manual, 3rd edition, most BSCs are designed to permit operation 24 h/day. It was found that continuous operation helps to control the levels of dust and particulate materials in the laboratory.

The estimated shelf life of HEPA or ULPA filters is up to 10 years when stored properly.

Filters should be kept in their original packaging and should not be exposed to dampness, excessive heat, cold or rapidly changing temperatures. These filters can tolerate up to 95% humidity; anything higher can cause the filter media to block and fail.

- Handling of low to moderate risk biological agents -Applicable for handling pathogens under Risk Groups 1,2, and 3

Class II Biosafety Cabinets are open-fronted which protect the laboratory workers and the environment from harmful biological agents. Class II BSCs also prevent biological materials (i.e cell cultures, microbiological stocks) inside it from being contaminated.

Yes, Class II BSC is the most common type used for handling blood, serum, and urine samples. The Class II BSC provides a sterile environment for the samples and reduces the risk of cross-contamination while protecting the operators from the biohazards.

Gaseous decontamination is required when: 

- the biological safety cabinet needs to have its filter replaced.

 - the biosafety cabinet is relocated to another area or facility

 - the BSC will undergo certification. The decontamination provides more protection for the engineer who will be certifying the cabinet. 

- there are cases of major spills

Esco recommends the use of 70% Isopropyl alcohol as a cleaning agent for all biosafety cabinets. Cleaning agents with bleach or chlorine-based must be avoided as they may cause rusting or staining.

No. The open flame should not be used in a BSC. The heat from the flame disrupts the airflow containment and can be dangerous when volatile or flammable substances are also used. Microburners, micro incinerators, or electric furnaces are available as alternatives. When deemed absolutely necessary, the bunsen burner can only be used with its flame at its lowest level.

Type A biological safety cabinet has a ductless design. It has a plug-and-play feature which means that once the unit is delivered and installed, it can be immediately used. Type B biosafety cabinet requires a ducting system. The laboratory must have sufficient space and height clearance since this type of BSC needs an installation and exhaust blower.

Some microbiological processes require small amounts of chemicals. This type of handling is allowed as biological safety cabinets may be upgraded to have a thimble ducting or carbon filter to accommodate small volumes of chemicals. However, a high concentration of corrosive acids is not allowed as it may damage the ULPA filters and cause corrosion.

Generally, it can be said that the following differences in specifications each piece of equipment has. We recommend using Professional Pharmaceutical Freezers for valuable medication/vaccine storage because of the reasons below;

- Inside temperature is affected by ambient temperature

- Risk for freezing of stored medication/vaccine

- Variation and instability of internal temperature uniformity

- Internal temperature rising during defrost

- Precise temperature control of the chamber inside is impossible

- Alarms and safety functions are not available

Generally, it can be said that the following features each cooling type has. Please note that below is the general information and actual performance depends on the individual products. Checking each performance, specification, and feature is recommended.

The Fan Cooling Type generally requires air passage for the wind generated by a fan which may reduce the effective internal capacity. Temperature reaction/change, as well as pull-down speed, is faster with forced air circulation by the fan. Regarding frost, the Fan type performs cycle defrost automatically and removes chamber frost before accumulates inside. Alternative running of compressor and heater for automatic cycle defrost may increase power consumption. Also, some temp. rising occurs during automatic defrost.

For more details on the performance and specification of our Biomedical Freezers line-up, find the brochures and operational manuals.

Find a lineup summary from the table below. For more detail on each function & technology, please find the Product Technology contents.

There is the following difference in terms;-

 Temperature settable range: Temp you can physically set from the control panel.

 Temperature control range: Temp the freezer can actually perform under certain conditions (e.g. Ambient temperature at 30°C, Air temp. measured at the freezer center, Without load, etc. - described in the product brochure or manual)

Even though you can set the temperature of the ULT Freezer at -90°C which is an allowable range from the controller, the continuous running at a minimum threshold will be loaded on the freezer. Temperature Control range (under certain conditions) is the guaranteed performance of the product by PHCbi.

Generally, there are the following differences in characteristics between the TC sensor and IR sensor equipped with a CO2 Incubator. 

For daily use, no outstanding benefits of the Water jacket type are considered, if there are no frequent occasions of power failure for a long time since the Water jacket type requires a regular refill of water in the jacket and contamination control by additional water. Please note that below is the general information and actual performance depends on the individual products. Checking each performance, specification, and feature is recommended.

The model number of each PHCbi CO2 Incubator indicates whether the UV sterilization and H2O2 decontamination are standard or option as shown in the following table. 

Immediately after power is recovered, UV resolving phase (90min.) starts. However, even after the decontamination process is completed, a decontamination error message will be displayed. You should start the decontamination process again. During power failure, the door is remained locked.

When a UV lamp life indicator is blinking that means the UV lamp has been used for longer than 1000 hours, the decontamination process cannot be started. When the lamp’s use hours are less than 1000 hours and no blinking of the UV lamp indicator, even if its UV intensity is degraded, the lamp can resolve gas without extension of resolving time.

Please do decontamination when contamination occurs inside the chamber, or at chamber cleaning for changeover before starting culture (※Instruction Manual has a description). We also recommend doing the decontamination process just after installation.

As defined in USP <825> Radiopharmaceutical Preparation, Compounding, Dispensing, and Repackaging, these are finished dosage forms that contain a radioactive substance in association with one or more other ingredients and that is intended to diagnose, stage a disease, monitor treatment, or provide therapy. They are also called  radioactive drugs  and can include any nonradioactive reagent kit or radionuclide generator that is intended to be used in the preparation of any such substance.

Based on USP <825>, sterile preparations (e.g., injectables, inhalations, and ophthalmics) must be handled in a primary engineering control (PEC) of ISO Class 5, such as laminar airflow workbenches (LAFWs) or BSCs. If used only to prepare, dispense, or repackage, the ISO Class 5 PEC may be placed in an unclassified Segregated Radiopharmaceutical Processing Area (SRPA). If used to compound sterile preparations, the PEC must be located within an ISO Class 7 or better buffer room and ISO Class 8 or better ante-room.

On the other hand, for non-sterile preparations (e.g., oral capsules and solutions), it is recommended to use chemical fume hoods, with the addition of activated charcoal filters when handling potentially volatile radionuclides.

The lead-shielding thickness and design would always depend on the amount/dose of radiation being handled by the end user. This value is unique per application and client. Please consult your radiation safety officer to get the correct lead-shielding design for you.

Yes, both sets of equipment can be integrated into the unit. The compartment design is customizable as per the client s preference so it can house whichever brand/model the client is using.

BlueNotes is our dedicated software package that can be used to control our Flame Photometer range from a Windows PC. There are currently three versions,

i) BlueNotes 410 for our M410* Flame Photometers, 

ii) BlueNotes 420 for our M420 series** of Flame Photometers and, 

iii) Regulated BlueNotes 420 for 420 series instruments being operated in an environment that requires adherence to 21 CFR Part 11 and similar regulations.

(* – see FAQ 3 below) (** M420 series of Flame Photometers: M420, M425 and M420Cs)

BlueNotes 420 and Regulated BlueNotes 420 require Windows 7 or later. BlueNotes 410 operates on Windows XP or later. The PC requires a serial connection to link to the flame photometer and an additional one for the optional autosampler accessory for which a USB to RS-232 adapter can also be used (supplied separately).

Samples are illuminated using an LED and recorded with a moving camera positioned below the sample stage. During brightfield acquisition, the camera scans the sample stage and acquires a series of sequential images. One complete brightfield scan generates approximately 7850 snapshots. These are stitched to form an image with a surface area of 86 mm × 124 mm When acquiring fluorescence images, users can choose how many snapshots of a defined location within the well to record. The images are uploaded to the Cloud where they can be analyzed using our image analysis algorithms or third-party software

The Omni is compatible with the following modules: Brightfield/fluorescence Cell Confluence Analysis Algorithm, Scratch Assay (i.e., collective cell migration) Analysis Algorithm, Clonogenic Assay Algorithm, and Fluorescent Object Count. Users always have the option to download the raw data and perform their own analysis on third-party software.

You can specify the interval rate between 1h - 24 h or choose to perform a single scan.

The magnification is equal to the magnification of a microscope with a 10× objective.

Confluence, collective cell migration and colony formation analysis are available in the Cloud. All images and videos can also be downloaded for personal image analysis.

Yes, the Omni systems are designed to be used inside a cell culture incubator. The hardware and electronics can operate at 5-40°C and between 20-95% humidity.

No, our image analysis algorithms are designed to evaluate unlabeled cells, so you do not have to add (toxic) dyes to your cells. This enables to non-invasive analysis of your cells.

 Yes, the device can only be used with a Windows-based computer with a USB3.0 port (which can also be purchased at CytoSMART). A WiFi or wired ethernet connection is necessary to be able to connect to the CytoSMART® Cloud for data storage and analysis.

 Any culture vessel lower than 55 mm (height of the light arc) can be scanned. However, the size of the scan is limited to 86 x 124 mm, which fits a regular well plate or T175 flask. In case you would like to image larger vessels, you cannot capture the entire surface.

The scans are uploaded to the CytoSMART® Cloud because of the vast amount of data that is created with the CytoSMART Omni. In order to store and analyze the gigabytes of data, you would need a high-end local computer which costs a lot more compared to cloud-based storage and analysis. Furthermore, the CytoSMART Cloud is powered by the Microsoft Azure, which is one of the most secure cloud-platforms. This ensures safe storage of your data and allows you to retain tight control over data sharing.

Clean the device using lint-free wipes and 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Do not use acetone to clean the device. The device cannot be autoclaved.

Yes, after sterilizing with 70% ethanol or IPA, the device can be used in a cleanroom.

Any transparent culture vessel that is lower than 55 mm  (height of the light arc) can be scanned. Some examples include 6- to 384-well plates, Petri dishes, and T25 to T225 flasks. Users should keep in mind that the size of the scan area is limited to 86 mm × 124 mm 

The CytoSMART Omni FL is a fluorescence (green and red) and brightfield microscope designed to image live cells directly inside a cell culture incubator. The device can be used for continuous cell culture monitoring, as well as endpoint assays.

Many different fluorescent dyes can be used, as long as the fluorescent dye s excitation and emission spectra correspond with the fluorescence filters of the Omni FL (green – excitation: 452/45 nm, emission: 512/23 nm; red – excitation: 561/14 nm, emission: 630/90 nm). Some examples are calcein-AM, and green fluorescent protein (GFP) for the green channel, and propidium iodide (PI) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) for the red channel.

It is essential to match the fluorescent dye to the optical filter specifications of the device. In addition, it is important to ensure that the dye is not toxic to live cells.

The CytoSMART Lux is a compact digital microscope that utilizes brightfield and fluorescence microscopy to capture automated high-quality images of living cells from inside an incubator. Samples are illuminated using an LED and recorded with a fixed camera positioned below the sample stage. The images are uploaded to the CytoSMART Cloud where they can be analyzed using our image analysis algorithms or 3rd party software.

The CytoSMART Lux is compatible with the following modules: brightfield/fluorescence Cell Confluence Analysis Algorithm, Scratch Assay (i.e. collective cell migration) Analysis Algorithm, and Fluorescent Object Count. Users always have the option to download the raw data and perform their own analysis on 3rd party software.

Yes, the CytoSMART Lux systems are designed to be used inside a cell culture incubator. The hardware and electronics can operate at 5 – 40°C and between 20 – 95% humidity. 

Any transparent culture vessel that is lower than 55 mm  (height of the light arc) can be scanned. Some examples include 6- to 384-well plates, Petri dishes, T25 to T225, microfluidic chips, and Petri dishes.

The CytoSMART Lux3 BR is an inverted digital microscope that utilizes brightfield and digital phase-contrast microscopy to capture high-quality images of living cells. Due to its compact size, the microscope can be placed directly inside a standard cell culture incubator, allowing to perform long-term imaging experiments without sacrificing cell health and viability.

The applications of the CytoSMART Lux3 BR include but not limited to – monitoring cell viability and cell differentiation, spheroid and organoid characterization, cell morphology analysis, and single-cell tracking. Researchers in the fields of drug discovery, immunology, tissue engineering, cancer and stem cell research can benefit from live-cell imaging.

The CytoSMART Lux3 BR comes with a fixed 10× objective and 20× digital zoom.

Cell confluence, scratch analysis, and colony detection are currently a part of the image analysis software package. Users always have the option to download raw image data and perform their own analysis.

No, our image analysis algorithms are optimized to be used in label-free screens and assays, so you don’t have to add any fluorescent or colorimetric dyes to your culture, providing a non-invasive analysis of the cells.

 The CytoSMART Lux3 BR allows to monitor a wide range of different culture dishes and flasks, including:

• >> T-flasks: T-25 up to T-250
• >> Single-well, multi-well plates (6 – 384-well plates)
• >> Microfluidic chips
• >> Cell culture tubes
• >> Petri dishes
• >> Slides.

Images can be recorded at pre-defined intervals. At the start of a new experiment you can specify the interval rate anywhere between 5 min - 12 h.

The device is easy to clean using lint-free wipes and 70% ethanol or isopropanol. Do not use acetone to clean the device. Please be aware that the device cannot be autoclaved. After sterilizing with ethanol or isopropanol the device can be used in a cleanroom.

 The CytoSMART Lux3 FL is a small fluorescence live-cell imaging microscope, equipped with one brightfield and two fluorescent channels (green and red). The device allows users to track dynamic cellular processes with high specificity by taking high-quality fluorescence images to create real-time, time-lapse movies. Experimental data can be accessed and analyzed remotely via the CytoSMART Cloud.

The applications of the CytoSMART Lux3 FL include - but not limited to - monitoring cell viability, measuring transfection efficiency, investigating co-cultures, and studying dynamic cellular processes. Researchers working in the fields of drug discovery, tissue engineering, immunology, immunotherapy, and cancer research can benefit from fluorescence live-cell imaging.

Yes, it is possible to set the intensity of the LED for red and green fluorescent channels according to users preferences

Yes, it is possible to set the intensity of the LED for red and green fluorescent channels according to users preferences

The CytoSMART Lux3 FL remote functionality runs on cloud-based software. In this cloud-environment, the images and videos are stored and can be accessed using user-specific login details. Next to unlimited data storage, automated image analysis can be performed in the CytoSMART Cloud portal.

 The CytoSMART Lux3 FL allows monitoring of a wide range of different culture dishes and flasks, such as: T-flasks (T-25 up to T-250), single well, multi-well plates (6 - 384-well plates), microfluidic chips, flat tubes, Petri dishes, and slides. This is not an exhaustive list, so if your preferred equipment is not on this list please get in touch with us.

The CytoSMART Lux3 FL comes with a fixed 10x objective and 20x digital zoom.

Many different fluorescent dyes can be used, as long as the fluorescent dye s excitation and emission spectra correspond with the fluorescent filters of the Lux3 FL (green - excitation: 452/45 nm, emission: 512/23 nm; red - excitation: 561/14 nm, emission: 630/90 nm). Some examples are green fluorescent protein (GFP) and Cell Tracker green for the green channel, and red fluorescent protein (RFP), PI, and Cell Tracker Orange for the red channel.