Transform RCF/g to RPM in your centrifuge

Convert RPM to RCF easily

Can your centrifuge only be programmed in RPM? Here's a quick solution to find out its equivalent in RCF (also called g).


What is RCF?

If you're used to reading scientific papers, you'll have noticed that the typical way of expressing the speed at which you should set a centrifuge is "RCF" or "g".

This is because it's a standardized way of referring to the speed at which a centrifuge's rotor spins.

Image of a centrifuge.

What is special about this way of expressing rotational speed?

What makes RCF the most accurate way to express the speed at which the centrifuge is set is that this value does not depend on the distance of the tube from the rotor axis, whereas RPM does. That is why we say that RCF is a standardized or normalized parameter.


And what is the impact of the RCF being a standardized unit?

By using RCF instead of RPM, you ensure that the centrifugal force you apply to your sample tubes is the same across all centrifuges in the world.


But your centrifuge only expresses the speed in RPM... Let's solve the problem

If this is your case, there is a simple way to convert RPM to RCF. First, use a ruler to measure the distance from the center of the rotor to the edge of the tube, as shown in the image below.

Representation of the radius measurement (Sonmez C. et al., 2021).


Next, in the image below, draw a line through the RPM value. Without moving it, look at the point where it intersects the RCF line. The value at that point corresponds to your RCF.

RCF calculator.

Can I continue to indicate RPM in my scientific article?

Although it is not recommended, if you do this, do not forget to mention the model of centrifuge used or the distance to the center of the rotor. Only then will another person be able to reproduce your protocol again.


Sources

Section 'But your centrifuge only expresses the speed in RPM... Let's solve the problem'

  • Sonmez, C., Gümüs, A., Senes, M., Aykal, G., Taneli, F., Aksungar, F., Avci, E., Coskun, C., Çinaroglu, I., Colak, A., Eker, P., Güçel, F., Hakligor, A., Inal, B. B., Orhan, B., & Yilmaz, C. (2021). An important source of preanalytical error in medical laboratories: Centrifugation. Turkish Journal of Biochemistry, 46(4), 399. https://doi.org/10.1515/TJB-2020-0262/XML

Jaime D.L.A.

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