Microcentrifuge tubes are versatile workhorses in many labs, particularly those involved in biology and medicine. Their primary function revolves around centrifugation, a technique that separates mixtures based on density using high-speed spinning. Here's a breakdown of their key uses:

• Centrifugation: As the name implies, the most fundamental use of microcentrifuge tubes is to hold samples during centrifugation in a microcentrifuge. By spinning the tube at high speeds, denser components like cells or precipitates move to the bottom, while less dense components like liquids remain on top. This allows researchers to isolate specific elements from their samples for further analysis.
• Sample preparation: Microcentrifuge tubes are ideal for various sample preparation steps before centrifugation. This might involve diluting solutions, mixing reagents with samples, or pelleting (collecting) cells after treatments. Their small size makes them perfect for working with limited sample volumes, which is often the case in biological research.
• Sample storage: Microcentrifuge tubes are convenient for storing biological samples like cell cultures, proteins, or DNA extracts at low temperatures (usually -20°C or -80°C). Many tubes come in sterile options to minimize contamination during storage.
• Mixing and aliquoting: The small size and conical shape of microcentrifuge tubes make them suitable for the efficient mixing of small sample volumes using pipettes or vortex mixers. They can also be used for aliquoting, which involves dividing a larger sample volume into smaller, precise portions for further use or storage.

In essence, microcentrifuge tubes are fundamental tools for handling, separating, and storing samples in various laboratory workflows, especially those involving centrifugation and working with small volumes. And then you might want to figure out what are some common mistakes people make when using microcentrifuge tubes, and how can they be avoided.