Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Practice Exam

What is a common cause of excessive centrifuge vibration?

1. Unbalanced tubes

2. Worn brushes

3. Variable voltage

4. Uneven bench surfaces

The correct answer is: Unbalanced tubes

Excessive centrifuge vibration is most commonly caused by unbalanced tubes. When samples are placed in a centrifuge rotor, they must be evenly distributed to ensure balanced rotation. If the tubes are not balanced, it results in uneven forces acting on the rotor during spinning, which can lead to excessive vibration. This not only affects the performance of the centrifuge but can also compromise the integrity of the samples being processed. While worn brushes, variable voltage, and uneven bench surfaces can also contribute to equipment performance issues, they are not primary causes of excessive vibration specific to centrifuges. Worn brushes might affect the electric motor's efficiency, variable voltage could lead to operational inconsistencies, and uneven surfaces could influence the stability of the centrifuge setup but are less directly tied to the vibration issues caused by imbalanced loads in the rotor.