Genevac miVac DNA Vacuum Centrifugal Concentrator

Overview

The Genevac miVac DNA is a compact, high-performance vacuum centrifugal concentrator engineered for precise, gentle, and reproducible solvent removal from low-volume biological and chemical samples. It operates on the fundamental principle of rotary evaporation under reduced pressure: lowering system pressure reduces solvent boiling points, enabling efficient evaporation at controlled, non-denaturing temperatures. Combined with a fixed-speed rotor (1465 rpm), the system generates sufficient centrifugal force to retain liquid within vessels—preventing sample loss, cross-contamination, or aerosol formation during concentration. Designed specifically for molecular biology workflows, the miVac DNA delivers consistent performance across aqueous buffers, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, and other moderately volatile solvents commonly used in nucleic acid purification, enzymatic reaction cleanup, and sample preparation for downstream analysis (e.g., sequencing, PCR, mass spectrometry). Its modular rotor architecture supports diverse vessel formats without requiring hardware modification, making it suitable for both routine benchtop use and high-throughput academic or forensic laboratories.

Key Features

• Programmable temperature control from ambient up to 80 °C in 1 °C increments, enabling optimization for thermolabile biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins.
• Stable vacuum regulation down to 10 mbar via integrated vacuum pump interface—compatible with external oil-free or diaphragm pumps meeting ISO 8573-1 Class 0 air purity standards.
• Dedicated operating modes (Water, Alcohol, Other) automatically adjust vacuum ramp profiles and heating algorithms to match solvent volatility and heat sensitivity.
• Robust aluminum alloy rotor with precision-balanced geometry ensures mechanical stability at 1465 rpm, minimizing vibration and thermal drift during extended runs.
• Compact footprint (360 × 597 × 300 mm) and lightweight design (34 kg) allow flexible placement in biosafety cabinets, cold rooms, or shared core facilities.
• No integrated cold trap or pressure controller—designed for modularity and compliance with institutional procurement policies that mandate third-party certified vacuum components.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The miVac DNA accommodates standard laboratory consumables including 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes, 15 mL and 50 mL conical tubes, 96-well PCR plates, crimp-top vials, and 25 mL round-bottom flasks. All rotors are autoclavable and chemically resistant to common organic solvents and dilute acids/bases. The system meets CE marking requirements per Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC) and 2014/35/EU (LVD). While not pre-certified for GMP or GLP environments, its operational repeatability, traceable temperature calibration (NIST-traceable probe optional), and compatibility with audit-ready external vacuum controllers support integration into regulated workflows aligned with ISO/IEC 17025, USP , and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when paired with validated data capture systems.

Software & Data Management

The miVac DNA operates via an intuitive front-panel interface with real-time display of vacuum level, chamber temperature, elapsed time, and rotor status. No proprietary software is required for basic operation; however, optional Genevac Link™ PC software enables remote monitoring, method storage, run logging, and export of CSV-formatted session reports—including timestamps, setpoints, and deviation alerts. When deployed in networked lab environments, exported logs may be ingested into LIMS platforms supporting ASTM E1384 or ISO/IEC 17025-compliant electronic record retention protocols. All user-defined methods are stored in non-volatile memory and survive power cycling.

Applications

• Concentration and desalting of purified DNA/RNA prior to sequencing library preparation or transfection.
• Removal of ethanol wash residues following phenol-chloroform extractions or silica-membrane column purification.
• Pre-concentration of dilute protein digests or peptide fractions for LC-MS/MS analysis.
• Routine drying of forensic evidence extracts (e.g., STR amplification products) while preserving allelic integrity.
• Processing of small-molecule metabolite standards in academic pharmacokinetic studies.
• Sample conditioning for MALDI-TOF MS where matrix crystallization requires precise solvent removal kinetics.

FAQ

Does the miVac DNA include a built-in cold trap?
No. A cold trap is not integrated and must be added externally if condensable vapors (e.g., chloroform, DMSO) are processed.
Can the miVac DNA be used for lyophilization?
No. It is not designed for freeze-drying; it performs vacuum-assisted evaporation only—not sublimation-based drying.
Is the rotor compatible with 0.2 mL PCR strip tubes?
Not natively; however, adapter inserts for 0.2 mL strips can be sourced separately from Genevac’s accessory catalog (Part No. ADP-02PCR).
What vacuum pump specifications are recommended?
A two-stage diaphragm pump capable of ≤10 mbar ultimate vacuum and ≥25 L/min free-air displacement is recommended; oil-free operation is strongly advised for molecular biology applications.
How is temperature accuracy verified?
Users may perform in-chamber validation using a NIST-traceable PT100 probe inserted through the vent port; Genevac provides calibration certificates upon request for optional factory-installed probes.