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How Should You Stop a Spinning Centrifuge?

Lab centrifuges accelerate the separation of substances by using centripetal force to mimic an increase in gravity. This increase forces substances of greater density to the bottom and substances of lesser density to the top. Centrifuges must be treated with care during use to avoid injury from the mechanism, as well as chemical poisoning from escaping aerosols. Stopping a spinning centrifuge correctly is crucial to ensuring the safety of all experimenters.

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the centrifuge following manufacturer instructions. Centrifuges do not "brake" when turned off, so the centrifuge will continue to spin.
- 2
  Allow the centrifuge to slow to a stop. Do not interfere with the centrifuge in this stage to avoid injuring yourself or invalidating your experiment.
- 3
  Allow the centrifuge an additional 10 minutes for all aerosols to settle after it has come to a complete stop. Do not disturb the centrifuge during this time.
- 4
  Check the centrifuge for leaks. Pay particular attention to the areas around the o-rings and the rotor.
- 5
  Open the centrifuge slowly to avoid disturbing the contents.

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