What are the three main types of centrifuge?

• A. Angle head; Swing-out head; Micro-haematocrit
• B. Angle head, Swing-out head, Fixed-angle
• C. Horizontal rotor, Fixed-angle rotor, Ultracentrifuge
• D. Micro-haematocrit, Ultracentrifuge, Microfuge

Answer: (A)

Centrifuges are grouped by how the tubes are held in the rotor during spinning. The two common rotor styles you’ll see are angle-head rotors, where tubes sit at a fixed slant, and swing-out (swinging-bucket) rotors, where tubes start vertical and swing outward to a horizontal position in spin. A third distinct category used in many labs is the microhematocrit centrifuge, which is designed specifically for spinning tiny capillary hematocrit tubes to measure hematocrit quickly. Other options mix machine type with rotor design or assay use (for example, fixed-angle or horizontal rotors as variations of rotor design, ultracentrifuges as a high-speed instrument, and microfuge as a brand/mini centrifuge). So the combination angle head, swing-out head, and microhematocrit centrifuge reflects the main rotor styles plus a hematology-specific unit typically taught in this context.