Serofuge: Centrifuge for Serum Separation in Clinical Labs
A serofuge is a specialized centrifuge designed to separate serum from whole blood for diagnostic testing.
Components
- Serum: The fluid portion of clotted blood—devoid of cells and fibrinogen; contains electrolytes, proteins, hormones, antibodies, drugs.
- Centrifuge: Instrument using centrifugal force (RCF) to separate particles by density.
- Serofuge: Optimized for blood collection tubes (e.g., SST, red-top); typically operates at 3,000–4,000 rpm (≈1,500–2,500 ×g) for 10–15 minutes.
Workflow
- Collect blood in serum separator tube (SST) or plain red-top.
- Allow clotting (30 min at room temp).
- Centrifuge in serofuge → gel barrier forms (SST) or serum separates (red-top).
- Aspirate serum for analysis (chemistry, immunoassay, serology, TDM).
Serofuges are standard in clinical laboratories; proper balancing, maintenance, and QC are essential for reliable results.
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