What is the purpose of checking the rpm settings on centrifuges?

Checking the rpm settings on centrifuges is critical to ensure sample integrity. The speed at which a centrifuge operates directly influences the separation of components within a sample. If the rpm is set too high or too low, it can result in inadequate separation of cells, proteins, or other biological materials, which compromises the quality and reliability of the sample analysis.

Ensuring that the centrifuge operates at the correct rpm helps maintain the expected physical properties of the components being separated, thereby preserving the accuracy of downstream applications, such as assays or diagnostic tests. This is particularly significant in clinical and research laboratories where the precision of results can have important implications for diagnosis and treatment decisions.

While compliance with regulations may be important in laboratory settings, it is secondary to the need for ensuring that the samples remain intact and viable for analysis. Aesthetic conditions and cost control do not directly relate to the critical function of a centrifuge, which is to effectively segregate components based on their density through controlled spinning.