Tubular Centrifuge in Modern Blood & Plasma Processing: Efficiency, Sterility, and Innovation

Introduction: The Need for Precision in Blood & Plasma Processing

In the medical and biotechnology industries, precision and sterility are not just preferences — they are non-negotiable requirements. One of the most vital yet often overlooked tools in achieving these standards is the tubular centrifuge. The TC-12 tubular centrifuge can also be equipped with CIP (Clean-In-Place) functionality, allowing for automated cleaning processes that maintain hygiene standards while minimizing manual intervention. This high-speed separation device plays a critical role in blood component isolation, particularly in plasma separation and the removal of impurities from blood-based products. Depending on specific operational needs, the TC-12 ensures efficient, reliable, and sterile processing in demanding laboratory and industrial environments.

This article explores how TC-12 tubular centrifuges have revolutionized modern blood and plasma processing by offering superior efficiency, sterile operation, and unmatched performance in delicate biomedical workflows.

What Is a Tubular Centrifuge and How Does It Work?

A tubular centrifuge is a type of high-speed centrifugal separator designed with a narrow vertical bowl (tube) that rotates at very high speeds. Our models with up to 16,000 RPM, generates strong centrifugal forces that efficiently separate liquids of different densities. This makes them ideal for isolating blood components, clarifying biological fluids, and removing fine particles or solid contaminants from various liquids. Additionally, the precise control and high-speed rotation ensure minimal product loss and maximum purity, meeting the strict standards required in medical and biotechnology applications.

In blood and plasma processing, tubular centrifuges are used for:

• Separating plasma from whole blood
• Removing fibrin, cells, and debris
• Clarifying blood products for diagnostic and therapeutic use

The separation is achieved by exploiting the density difference between plasma and blood cells, resulting in clean, cell-free plasma ideal for further processing.

Key Benefits of Tubular Centrifuges in Blood & Plasma Applications

1. Exceptional Separation Efficiency

Tubular centrifuges can achieve up to 99.9% separation efficiency, which is critical when processing human or animal blood for plasma extraction. This high precision ensures that minimal red blood cells or platelets remain in the plasma.

2. Continuous Operation

Unlike batch centrifuges, the TC-12 can also operates continuously enabling high-throughput processing which is particularly useful in blood banks, clinical labs, or pharmaceutical production lines.

3. Sterile, Closed-System Design

Hygiene is crucial in biomedical workflows. Tubular centrifuges are designed to function as closed systems, reducing the risk of contamination and making them compliant with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and FDA standards.

4. Versatility for Different Fluids

TC-12tubular centrifuge can handle varied viscosities and compositions, including anticoagulated blood, platelet-rich plasma, or even cell cultures in bioprocessing environments.

5. Reduced Cell Damage

Thanks to its smooth acceleration and optimized flow design, the TC-12 tubular centrifuge provides gentle processing that protects sensitive biological components such as plasma proteins or therapeutic antibodies from mechanical stress.

Applications of Tubular Centrifuges in Blood & Plasma Processing

1. Blood Fractionation

Tubular centrifuges are used in blood banks and plasma centers for the continuous separation of plasma from whole blood. This is particularly valuable in:

• Plasmapheresis setups
• Production of plasma-derived biopharmaceuticals

2. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Production

In regenerative medicine and aesthetic therapy, PRP is a widely used product. Tubular centrifuges help achieve high-quality, contaminant-free platelet-rich plasma by effectively separating platelets from red blood cells and plasma without damaging cell membranes.

3. Immunoglobulin and Albumin Extraction

The pharmaceutical industry uses tubular centrifuges during the downstream processing stages of plasma to extract therapeutic proteins like immunoglobulin, fibrinogen, and albumin.

4. Blood Banks & Plasma Donation Centers

Tubular centrifuges are used to rapidly separate plasma from donated blood for storage or further fractionation. The speed and sterility of the process are critical for preserving the functional integrity of plasma proteins.

5. Plasma Fractionation Facilities

In pharmaceutical manufacturing, separated plasma is further processed to extract proteins like albumin, immunoglobulins, and clotting factors. Tubular centrifuges are often used as the first clarification step to remove residual cells and impurities.

6. Regenerative Medicine & PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Clinics

In smaller clinics or labs, tubular centrifuges are used to extract PRP for wound healing, orthopedic therapies, and aesthetic treatments. The ability to isolate high-quality PRP quickly and hygienically is a major advantage.

7. Veterinary and Research Labs

Veterinary applications, such as plasma therapy for animals, also rely on tubular centrifuge technology. In research settings, clean plasma or serum is essential for reproducibility and accurate results in diagnostics and experimental therapies.

Feature	Tubular Centrifuge (Our Model)	Disc Stack Centrifuge	Standard Lab Centrifuge
Speed (RPM)	16,000	5,000–10,000	< 5,000
Efficiency	High (near-complete separation)	Moderate	Low–Moderate
Sterility	Excellent (closed system, CIP optional)	Moderate	Low
Application	Plasma separation, bioprocessing	Cream separation, oil processing	Routine blood sample prep
Footprint	Compact	Large	Small
Maintenance	Low	High	Low

Advantages of Tubular Centrifuges in Clinical Settings

• Sterile Operation: The enclosed design ensures no contamination—crucial for medical and pharmaceutical standards.
• Minimal Sample Loss: Reduces handling and increases recovery of target components.
• High Throughput: Ideal for industrial-scale blood processing or high-volume diagnostic labs.
• Compact Footprint: Occupies less space compared to batch centrifugation setups.
• Low Maintenance: Durable design with minimal moving parts.
• Flexibility: Can be adapted for different volumes and types of biological samples.

Key Features of Our Tubular Centrifuge

High-Speed Separation: Operates at 16,000 RPM, generating strong centrifugal forces for efficient separation of liquids with different densities and removal of fine particles or solid contaminants. Ideal for plasma separation, bioprocessing, and other medical and biotech applications.

Almost Zero Sample Loss: Minimizes handling and maximizes recovery of target components, ensuring minimal product waste.

Excellent Sterility: Closed system design with optional CIP (Clean-In-Place) functionality for automated cleaning and high hygiene standards.

Compact Footprint: Space-saving design suitable for laboratories and production facilities without compromising performance.

Low Maintenance: Durable design with minimal moving parts. The use of a robotic system allows the cylinder to be easily removed from the tubular centrifuge, requiring very little force for handling and reducing wear over time.

Customizable and User-Friendly: Can be tailored to specific operational requirements, ensuring flexibility, safety, and ease of use for various biotechnological and medical processes.

Why Use Tubular Centrifuges for Blood and Plasma Separation?

Blood is a complex fluid consisting of plasma (the liquid component) and various cellular components (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). Efficient separation of these components is essential for medical diagnostics, transfusion medicine, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and research.

Traditional blood separation uses batch centrifuges, which can be slow, have lower throughput, and require more handling. Tubular centrifuges, on the other hand, provide:

• Continuous operation
• Higher separation efficiency
• Lower shear stress on delicate biological materials
• Closed, sterile systems for GMP-compliant operations
• Excellent performance with low concentration suspensions

How Tubular Centrifuges Work in Blood Processing

1. Feed Inlet: Whole blood or plasma mixture is fed into the rotating bowl.
2. High-Speed Rotation: The centrifuge rapidly rotates, generating a centrifugal force exceeding 10,000g.
3. High-Speed Rotation: The centrifuge rapidly rotates, generating a centrifugal force exceeding 10,000g. Our advanced design enables the system to achieve forces up to 18,000 times the acceleration of gravity, providing superior separation efficiency for demanding industrial and laboratory applications.
4. Phase Separation:
   • Plasma, being the lightest component, collects near the axis.
   • Red blood cells, being denser, move toward the outer wall.
   • Intermediate components like white blood cells and platelets are separated in discrete layers.
5. Discharge: The separated components are discharged through designated outlets or manually collected after stopping the machine.

This entire process is carried out in a closed, contamination-free environment, maintaining sample integrity and sterility.

Innovations in Tubular Centrifuge Technology

With increasing demand in blood component therapy and biopharmaceuticals, innovations in tubular centrifuge design include:

2. Automated Control Systems
Our TC-12 tubular centrifuge features both PC-based and PLC-based control systems, allowing precise monitoring of temperature, speed, and flow rate for reliable, efficient operation.

3. Integrated Sampling Ports and CIP (Clean-in-Place)

For GMP-compliant facilities, CIP systems allow for automated cleaning of internal surfaces without dismantling equipment.

Clean-in-Place (CIP) System

our centrifuge is CIP capable. This technology enables automated cleaning of all internal surfaces without the need for dismantling, ensuring process reliability, shorter downtime, and contamination-free operation. The CIP system is particularly valuable for GMP-compliant facilities, where validated, repeatable, and efficient cleaning processes are essential for maintaining product safety and quality.

Regulatory and Quality Standards Compliance

In blood and plasma processing, strict compliance with international standards is essential to ensure product safety and process reliability. A high-performance tubular centrifuge system must:

• Meet global certifications such as FDA, EMA, and ISO 13485.
• Be manufactured under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
• Provide complete traceability and validation documentation for quality assurance.
• Be fully compatible with cleanroom environments to minimize contamination risks.

Our company’s tubular centrifuge systems are designed and manufactured in full compliance with these stringent regulations. By meeting FDA, EMA, ISO 13485, and cGMP requirements, our equipment guarantees maximum safety, reliability, and hygienic performance for critical applications in the biopharmaceutical and plasma industries.

Considerations for Choosing a Tubular Centrifuge in Biomedical Settings

If you are a production manager or procurement specialist in a pharmaceutical or medical laboratory, selecting the right tubular centrifuge is crucial for efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance. Here are the key factors to consider:

Bowl Size and Throughput Capacity – Our tubular centrifuges are available in 8L and 10L bowls, allowing you to choose the capacity that best fits your daily volume. Both sizes are fully compatible with the same system, ensuring smooth operation without any adjustments or limitations.

Material and Safety Features – Made from high-grade stainless steel 316L or other biocompatible materials, our devices can also be customized for explosion-proof operation upon customer request, providing additional safety in demanding biomedical environments.

CIP/SIP Capabilities – For workflows requiring high cleaning efficiency, our centrifuges feature advanced Clean-in-Place (CIP) and Sterilize-in-Place (SIP) systems, ensuring hygienic and contamination-free operation with minimal downtime.

Automation and Control – The ROTA-HANSA system comes with a dedicated software platform that can be integrated with your computer systems. This allows full control and monitoring of the centrifuge remotely, simplifying operation and enhancing process efficiency.

Validation Support – All our centrifuges are delivered with IQ/OQ/PQ documentation to support regulatory compliance and provide complete traceability for GMP-compliant facilities.

ROTA-HANSA’s tubular centrifuges combine flexibility, safety, and advanced control systems, making them ideal for biomedical applications that demand precision, reliability, and compliance with the highest international standards.

Choosing the Right Tubular Centrifuge

When selecting a centrifuge for blood or plasma separation, consider:

• Capacity and Flow Rate
• Material of Construction (e.g., SS316L for medical-grade equipment)
• Sterilization Compatibility
• Automation Needs
• GMP & ISO Compliance
• Manufacturer’s Reputation & Service Network

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