Page 96 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

The selection, use, maintenance and quality control of laboratory equipment and supplies 65

Hand-operated centrifuge Microhaematocrit centrifuge
Great care should be taken when handling hand- Haematocrit centrifuges are used to spin hae-
operated centrifuges. Keep your distance while matocrit tubes for haematological tests (see
operating the centrifuge. They can cause seri- Chapter 5). The microhaematocrit centrifuge
ous injury when it is not attached firmly on a (see Figure 2.30) is operated at a standard fixed
stable support (preferably the edge of the table). speed of RCF 12,000 for 5 min.
This type of centrifuge can be used to examine The microhaematocrit centrifuge helps to
urinary deposits and to concentrate parasites in diagnose anaemia and is used:
stool suspensions. Usually the speed of the cen-
trifuge is too low to separate red blood cells from • to determine the PCV value
plasma or serum (Figure 2.29). • to concentrate motile trypanosomes and
microfilaria in the buffy coat area.

Figure 2.29 Hand-operated centrifuge. Photo:
Dr Ziay Ghulam, Dr Wahidullah Bahaer, Central
Veterinary Diagnostic and Research Laboratory,
Kabul, Afghanistan.

Figure 2.30 Microhaematocrit centrifuge. Photo:
Dr Ziay Ghulam, Dr Wahidullah Bahaer, Central
Veterinary Diagnostic and Research Laboratory,
Kabul, Afghanistan.

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