Choosing centrifuges for GPs and Doctor’s surgeries can be a confusing task if you’re not familiar with this type of equipment. There is a vast array of choice when it comes to picking a centrifuge for your needs. Your choice of centrifuge will depend on a variety of factors. Luckily, Henderson Biomedical are here to guide you through the process.

Why does a GP require a centrifuge?

GPs/Doctors use centrifuges for various medical and clinical applications because they are essential tools for separating different components of blood or urine samples.  For blood samples, the centrifuge will be used to separate the components of blood, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma. This is important for various diagnostic tests that GPs may undertake. This includes blood count analysis, blood typing and the preparation of blood products like plasma or platelets for transfusion.

In the case of urine analysis, GPs will use a centrifuge to separate sediment from urine samples, which can help diagnose various kidney and urinary tract conditions. GPs/Doctors can analyse the sediment for the presence of cells, crystals, bacteria, or other substances.

In fact GPs/Doctors use centrifuges in a wide range of medical and clinical applications to separate and analyse various components of samples, aiding in diagnosis, research, and the development of treatments and therapies. These devices are essential for their ability to quickly and efficiently separate materials based on density, making them indispensable tools in GP surgeries.

In many cases, patient samples may be sent to a satellite laboratory or to a pathology department in a hospital. However, some GPs/Doctors may want to spin their own samples instead of sending away. In this case a centrifuge will be needed.

What types of centrifuges are available for GPs/Doctors?

Centrifuges for GPs and Doctors can take many forms. Doctors and medical professionals have access to various types of centrifuges, each designed for specific applications and laboratory needs. The choice of centrifuge depends on the type/number of samples being processed, the required speed and capacity and the intended use. Here are some common centrifuge options available to GPs and Doctors:

• Micro centrifuges: These are small, tabletop centrifuges designed for processing small volumes of samples in microcentrifuge tubes. They are commonly used in molecular biology and clinical laboratories for tasks such as DNA and RNA extraction, protein precipitation and pelleting of cellular debris.
• Clinical centrifuges: Clinical centrifuges are specifically designed for processing blood and other clinical samples. They are often used for separating blood components like plasma, serum, and cells. These can be further divided into:
  • Serum or plasma centrifuges: These are used to separate serum or plasma from whole blood samples for clinical chemistry testing.
  • Haematocrit centrifuges: Designed for measuring the volume percentage of red blood cells in whole blood (haematocrit) and are used in diagnostic labs and point-of-care settings.
• Benchtop centrifuges: These are versatile and can handle a wider range of sample sizes and volumes compared to microcentrifuges. They are often used in general research and clinical laboratories for various sample preparation and separation tasks.
• Refrigerated centrifuges: These centrifuges have built-in cooling systems and are used when temperature-sensitive samples need to be processed. They are commonly used in microbiology and biochemistry research.
• Portable centrifuges: These are compact, portable centrifuges that are suitable for point-of-care testing and fieldwork. They are often used in clinics, doctors’ offices and remote healthcare settings.
• Microplate centrifuges: Designed for the simultaneous centrifugation of microplates, these are commonly used in laboratories for high-throughput screening and assays.

When selecting a centrifuge for GPs or Doctor’s surgeries, you should consider factors such as sample volume, required speed and g-force, temperature control, rotor options and the specific applications they need to perform. Additionally, you should ensure that the centrifuge you choose complies with safety and regulatory standards for your field of work. You may require a centrifuge which is IVD or MD compliant and not all brands meet this requirement.

The Hettich EBA 270 is a popular choice for GP surgeries who need a centrifuge.

How Henderson Biomedical can help with centrifuges for GPs and Doctor’s surgeries

Our company have been offering preventative and corrective maintenance on centrifuges since 1987. We not only service and repair centrifuges, but we can also calibrate them to ISO 17025 (UKAS) standards. In addition to this, we can offer great prices on new and used centrifuges. We can even offer a centrifuge rental service for users who need a device for a short period of time.

We are the official NHS distributor of Hettich centrifuges and as such, we can offer great prices on their equipment.

For more information on how we can supply or maintain centrifuges for GPs and Doctors surgeries, please contact us on 020 8663 4610. Alternatively, you can email us at info@henderson-biomedical.co.uk or use our contact form and a member of the team will get back to you.

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