Thermo Fisher Sorvall™ Legend™ Micro 21R Refrigerated Microcentrifuge

Overview

The Thermo Fisher Sorvall™ Legend™ Micro 21R is a high-performance benchtop refrigerated microcentrifuge engineered for precision, reproducibility, and operational efficiency in demanding molecular biology, clinical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical quality control laboratories. Utilizing brushless induction motor technology and a compact refrigeration system with R134a-free cooling, it delivers rapid acceleration and deceleration profiles while maintaining precise temperature control between –11°C and 40°C. Its core function—generating up to 21,100 × g at 14,800 rpm—is optimized for pelleting nucleic acids, precipitating proteins, clarifying cell lysates, and concentrating viral particles in volumes ranging from 0.2 mL to 2.0 mL. The instrument’s mechanical architecture integrates passive vibration damping and balanced rotor dynamics to ensure stable operation even at maximum speed, minimizing sample disturbance and enhancing run-to-run consistency.

Key Features

• Rapid thermal equilibration: Achieves setpoint temperature (e.g., 4°C) from ambient (22°C) in ≤9 minutes—critical for preserving thermolabile biomolecules during prep workflows.
• High-speed performance: Reaches full RCF (21,100 × g) in ≤12 seconds, reducing total cycle time without compromising separation resolution.
• Ergonomic one-touch lid mechanism: Integrated motorized lid actuation with audible and visual closure confirmation; compliant with IEC 61010-2-020 safety requirements for centrifuge interlocks.
• ClickSeal® biocontainment lid: Transparent, autoclavable polycarbonate lid with dual O-ring sealing and positive-latch verification—validated for containment of BSL-2 agents per WHO and CDC biosafety guidelines.
• Tool-free dual-row tube compatibility: Accommodates 1.5 mL and 2.0 mL conical or round-bottom microtubes simultaneously without adapters, eliminating alignment errors and cross-contamination risks.
• Lightweight polymer rotors: Chemically resistant, non-corrosive composite rotors (e.g., FA-45-24-11, F-45-30-11) certified for ≥100,000 cycles at rated speed; each rotor includes individual serial-number traceability and lifetime calibration logs.
• Low-noise operation: Acoustic emission <55 dB(A) at 1 m distance—designed for shared lab environments where continuous operation must coexist with adjacent instrumentation and personnel activity.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Sorvall™ Legend™ Micro 21R supports standard microcentrifuge formats including PCR strips, filter-based spin columns (e.g., silica-membrane purification kits), and low-retention tubes. All rotors are validated for use with common solvents (ethanol, isopropanol, chloroform) and denaturants (guanidine HCl, urea). Regulatory compliance extends beyond CE marking under Directive 98/79/EC (IVDD); the system adheres to ISO 13485:2016 design controls for in vitro diagnostic devices and meets essential requirements of IEC 61010-1 (safety of laboratory equipment) and IEC 61010-2-020 (particular safety requirements for centrifuges). Full audit trails—including rotor usage history, temperature deviation logs, and lid-cycle counts—are retained onboard for GLP/GMP-aligned laboratories requiring 21 CFR Part 11–compliant data integrity.

Software & Data Management

While the Legend™ Micro 21R operates via an intuitive front-panel interface with LED display and rotary encoder navigation, optional connectivity enables integration into centralized lab informatics systems. Through RS-232 or USB-B ports, users may export run parameters (speed, time, temperature, RCF), event timestamps, and error codes to LIMS or ELN platforms. Firmware versioning, calibration status, and rotor service life tracking are embedded in the device firmware and accessible via diagnostic mode—supporting internal QA audits and external regulatory inspections (e.g., FDA pre-submission reviews, ISO 17025 accreditation).

Applications

• Nucleic acid isolation and purification (plasmid DNA, genomic DNA, RNA)
• Protein precipitation and desalting prior to mass spectrometry analysis
• Viral vector concentration and clarification in gene therapy process development
• Microfiltration of cell culture supernatants using centrifugal filter units (e.g., Amicon Ultra)
• Pre-analytical sample preparation for clinical chemistry and immunoassays
• Small-volume solvent extraction workflows in environmental and forensic toxicology

FAQ

What is the minimum required clearance around the unit for ventilation?
Maintain ≥10 cm clearance on all sides and ≥15 cm above the unit to ensure unimpeded airflow through rear-mounted condenser fins and prevent thermal overload.
Can the centrifuge be operated without refrigeration?
Yes—the unit supports ambient-mode operation (temperature control disabled) for applications requiring no active cooling, such as routine pellet recovery of stable proteins or inert particulates.
Is rotor balancing required before every run?
No—rotor imbalance detection is performed automatically during acceleration; the system halts if asymmetry exceeds ±0.5 g·cm and displays error code E12, preventing mechanical stress on the drive shaft.
How often should the condensate tray be emptied?
Under typical use at 4°C and 50% RH, the integrated condensate tray requires emptying every 7–10 days; a visual indicator window allows real-time level monitoring without disassembly.
Are third-party rotors supported?
Only Thermo Fisher–certified rotors are approved for use; installation of non-OEM rotors voids safety certification and invalidates warranty coverage per IEC 61010-2-020 Annex BB.