TYPES
Analytical Ultracentrifugation
Preparative Ultracentrifugation
Zonal Ultracentrifugation
HISTORY
Van
Holde 1998 reports that in 1923 Theodor Svedberg and his Student H. Rinde
successfully analyzed large grained sols in terms of their gravitational
sedimentation.
Svedberg
now shifted his attention from sols to proteins (Hemoglobin), which lead to the
creation of a centrifuge with high speed called ultracentrifuge used in the
process of ultracentrifugation.
APPLICATIONS
Application in hematology
* Micro-haematocrit centrifugation
Application in blood transfusion
* Component separation
* Aphaeresis
* Cross matching
MERITS
AND DEMERITS
Merits
* Speed
* Consistent performance
* Compartmentalization
* Easy/simple technique
* No effect on cell
* Durability
* Separates intrinsically bound homogenous
mixtures
Demerits
*
Cost ineffective
*
Inadequate power supply
* Difficulty
to automate
*
Contamination
*
Others
CONCLUSION
In ultra centrifugation different forces like
centrifugal force, gravitational force and centripetal forces are used. This
technique has different applications, but it is very useful in hematological
process and blood transfusion services, it is a method used in the routine
laboratory.
Its usefulness cannot be overemphasized enough
because without the invent of this technique, improvements that it brought to
blood transfusion and hematology would have not existed and particularly it
made blood transfusion services have more professional look/shape by the invent
of component separation, aphaeresis and cross matching procedures where it is
very important.
Finally, this technique have added value to the diagnostic procedures or processes in the field of medical laboratory science, thanks to the founding fathers for their researches and efforts in ultra centrifugation.