Which of the following is the primary purpose of utilizing a clinical centrifuge in microbiology laboratories?

• A. To separate cellular components based on density
• B. To sterilize laboratory equipment
• C. To measure the optical density of bacterial cultures
• D. To incubate microbial samples at specific temperatures

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the function of a clinical centrifuge: it is a device that spins samples at high speeds to separate components based on their physical properties, primarily density.
2. Recall that in microbiology laboratories, samples often contain mixtures of cells, cellular debris, and fluids that need to be separated for further analysis.
3. Recognize that centrifugation causes denser components (like cells or organelles) to sediment at the bottom of the tube, while less dense components remain in the supernatant.
4. Compare this function with the other options: sterilization involves heat or chemicals, measuring optical density uses spectrophotometers, and incubation requires controlled temperature environments.
5. Conclude that the primary purpose of a clinical centrifuge is to separate cellular components based on density, enabling microbiologists to isolate specific parts of a sample for study.