Technical information

Centrifuge Standard Operating Procedure 12
6. PROTOCOL
6.1 Sample Preparation
1. The rotors for the Beckman Avanti J30-I are stored in the cold room (SR-
412A).
2. Check the rotor before using:
a. Make sure that it is clean and dry. If it is not clean, you must clean
it before using it and report the problem to the Instrumentation
Technician. Liquids and dried samples that are left in the buckets can
cause corrosion and make the rotor unbalanced.
b. Make sure that the metal threads on the rotor are clean and lightly
greased.
c. Check the o-rings to make sure they are present and have a light
coating or silicone vacuum grease. If any o-rings are missing, contact
the Instrumentation Technician before using.
d. Examine the pins for damage. If new damage is apparent, consult
with the Instrumentation Technician before using.
3. Check the chemical compatibilities of the materials to be used in the rotor
(Refer to Appendix A in the Rotor User manual on the side of the centrifuge)
4. Samples in the rotor must be balanced:
a. Load opposing buckets or carriers with the same type of labware
containing the same amounts of fluid of equal density;
b. Weight samples on a balance in your lab, or on the balance beside
the centrifuge (SR416), and place equally weighted samples across
from one another in the centrifuge (See Section 2 for more detail).
i. Do not conclude that tubes are balanced by sight or volume;
ii. When using rotor sleeves, balance them along with the tubes;
iii. If necessary, use "water blank" tubes to balance sample tubes
of unequal weigh.