Kinetically limited differential centrifugation as an inexpensive and readily available alternative to centrifugal elutriation. (August 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tan, Jinwang; Lee, Byung-Doo; Polo-Parada, Luis; Sengupta, Shramik
• Is Part Of: Biotechniques. Volume 53:Number 2(2012)
• Page Start: 104
• Page End: 108
• Publication Date: 2012-08
• Subjects: Kinetically Limited Separations -- Centrifugation -- Centrifugal Elutriation -- bacteria -- Blood Culture -- Blood; Biology, Experimental -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Biology, Experimental; Medical technology; Molecular biology; Clinical Laboratory Techniques -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Medical Laboratory Science -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 570
• DOI: 10.2144/0000113853
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-6205

Abstract

When separating two species with similar densities but differing sedimentation velocities (because of differences in size), centrifugal elutriation is generally the method of choice. However, a major drawback to this approach is the requirement for specialized equipment. Here, we present a new method that achieves similar separations using standard benchtop centrifuges by loading the seperands as a layer on top of a dense buffer of a specified length, and running the benchtop centrifugation process for a calculated amount of time, thereby ensuring that all faster moving species are collected at the bottom, while all slower moving species remain in the buffer. We demonstrate the use of our procedure to isolate bacteria from blood culture broth (a mixture of bacterial growth media, blood, and bacteria).