Thermo Fisher Sorvall™ ST 8 Benchtop Centrifuge
| Brand | Thermo Fisher |
|---|---|
| Origin | Shanghai, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Model | Sorvall™ ST 8 Benchtop Centrifuge |
| Pricing | Available Upon Request |
Overview
The Thermo Fisher Sorvall™ ST 8 Benchtop Centrifuge is an engineered solution for routine centrifugation tasks in clinical diagnostics, quality control laboratories, and academic research settings. Designed around horizontal rotor dynamics and fixed-angle acceleration profiles, it delivers consistent sedimentation performance across diverse sample volumes (0.2 mL to 50 mL) under controlled gravitational forces up to 3,500 × g. Its compact footprint (27 cm W × 32 cm D × 25 cm H) enables seamless integration into biosafety cabinets, cold rooms, or shared benchtop environments without compromising accessibility or workflow continuity. The unit operates on standard 100–240 V AC input with active thermal management to maintain rotor chamber stability during extended runs—critical for temperature-sensitive biological samples such as plasma, serum, cell suspensions, and nucleic acid preparations.
Key Features
- Auto-Lock™ Rotor Engagement System: Enables tool-free, three-second rotor installation and removal with mechanical interlock verification—reducing setup time while eliminating misalignment risks associated with manual screw-tightening.
- ClickSeal™ Bio-Containment Lid: A one-handed, positive-latching lid mechanism that meets IEC 61010-2-020 safety requirements for biohazard containment; features integrated gasket sealing and audible click feedback upon secure closure.
- Acoustic Optimization: Engineered housing geometry and vibration-dampening base reduce operational noise to ≤55 dBA at 1 m distance—supporting compliance with ISO 14040-based laboratory acoustic standards.
- Programmable Workflow Interface: Stores up to 9 user-defined protocols with independent speed, time, and temperature parameters; recall via single-button activation minimizes input errors during high-throughput processing.
- Backlit LCD Display: High-contrast 128 × 64 pixel monochrome screen with adjustable brightness supports legible parameter monitoring under variable ambient lighting conditions—including low-illumination biosafety cabinets.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The Sorvall™ ST 8 accommodates a broad range of tube formats including conical-bottom polypropylene tubes (15 mL and 50 mL), microcentrifuge tubes (0.2–2.0 mL), and PCR strip carriers. All rotors are certified to ISO 15195:2019 for metrological traceability of rotational speed calibration. The system complies with EN 61000-6-3 (EMC emission limits) and EN 61000-6-2 (immunity to electrical disturbances), and its mechanical safety architecture conforms to IEC 61010-1:2010 for laboratory equipment. While not designed for sterile manufacturing environments, it supports GLP-aligned documentation practices through audit-ready protocol logs stored internally.
Software & Data Management
The ST 8 operates independently without external software dependencies. All run data—including start/stop timestamps, achieved RCF, elapsed time, and rotor identification—is retained in non-volatile memory for up to 100 cycles. No USB or network interface is provided; however, manual export is supported via printed protocol summaries using optional thermal label printers compatible with RS-232 output. For regulated environments requiring electronic records, the device may be integrated into broader LIMS workflows via time-stamped operator logs and physical signature sign-offs per FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Annex 11 guidance—though native digital signature capability is not embedded.
Applications
This centrifuge serves core applications in clinical hematology (e.g., whole blood separation into serum/plasma layers), molecular biology (pellet recovery of precipitated DNA/RNA), microbiology (bacterial cell harvesting prior to lysis), and pharmaceutical QC (clarification of suspension formulations). Its reproducible acceleration/deceleration profiles support method transfer between labs using ASTM E2500-13 principles for equipment qualification. It is routinely deployed in ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing laboratories for sample preparation preceding HPLC, ELISA, or spectrophotometric analysis.
FAQ
What rotor types are compatible with the Sorvall™ ST 8?
Standard configurations include a 24-place fixed-angle rotor (for 1.5/2.0 mL tubes) and a 4-place swing-bucket rotor (for 15/50 mL conical tubes); all rotors carry CE marking and Thermo Fisher part-number traceability.
Does the ST 8 support refrigerated operation?
No—the ST 8 is a non-refrigerated model optimized for ambient-temperature protocols; for temperature-controlled separations, consider the Sorvall™ ST 8R variant.
Is rotor imbalance detection built into the system?
Yes—integrated vibration sensors trigger automatic shutdown if mass asymmetry exceeds ±5 g across opposing positions, complying with IEC 61010-2-020 clause 7.3.2.
Can the ST 8 be validated for GMP environments?
While the hardware meets foundational safety and electromagnetic compatibility standards, formal IQ/OQ/PQ validation requires site-specific protocols aligned with Annex 15 and EU GMP guidelines; Thermo Fisher provides vendor documentation packages to support this process.
What maintenance intervals are recommended?
Biannual visual inspection of rotor threads and lid seal integrity is advised; annual calibration of speed accuracy (±2% tolerance) using NIST-traceable tachometers is recommended for GLP-compliant usage.
