Beyond Speed: 3 Ways Centrifugation Damages Your Samples

High g-force doesn't always mean better results. In fact, excessive centrifugation can ruin sample integrity in three overlooked ways:

1. Sediment compression – Too much force packs pellets so tightly that resuspension becomes incomplete or impossible
2. Temperature rise – Air friction at high speeds generates heat. Without proper refrigeration, sensitive proteins or RNA degrade within minutes
3. Shear stress – Rapid acceleration/deceleration creates fluid turbulence that can lyse cells or fragment DNA

🛡️ Protection checklist:

• Use the lowest g-force that achieves separation (check literature first)
• Pre-cool rotors before heat-sensitive runs
• Choose soft-start/soft-stop programs when available

Better data starts with gentler spins.

#SampleIntegrity #LabBestPractices #ResearchQuality