Are you using the right lab shaker?
Using the wrong motion on your sample can be a recipe for disaster and lead to inaccuracies. Precisely agitating the content of flasks and test tubes may require different types of motions. Depending on your samples, you may need anything from a soft, consistent rocking motion to a more rigorous mixing. Here are six shakers to consider to ensure you are using the right motion.
Six types of shakers
- Rocking creates a gentle uniform mixing with its see-saw motion. You may be able to adjust the tilting angle of some rocking shakers for low-speed motion.
- Rotating shaking for delicate samples in test tubes, flasks, and bottles. Some offer a broader range of motions. Rocker/rotator combinations are easy to find.
- Orbital is the most commonly used shaker and provides a smooth continuous motion for uniform mixing. For a side-to-side motion with simple agitation, try a reciprocating or dual-action shaker, which is a type of orbital shaker.
- Hand motion or wrist action simulates the effect of hand mixing; adjustments may allow you to accelerate from a gentle swirl to an aggressive agitation.
- Waving provides a three-dimensional wave motion suitable for liquid samples, DNA extractions, blotting techniques, and general mixing of various-sized tubes.
- Vortex offers a circular orbit range of motion to mix contents efficiently. Variable speed models may be used for general mixing to resuspending pellets.
Not sure which shakers are best for your lab? Have multiple applications and uses? Contact our technical support experts to help you make the best selection.
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