Cytological centrifugation for the concentration of clinical samples

Sample preparation in clinical cytology requires controlled concentration of cellular material for proper microscopic observation. In low-concentration fluids, the efficiency of the centrifugation process directly influences morphological preservation and cell identification.

In this context, cytocentrifuges are used to deposit cellular material onto a defined area of the microscope slide, facilitating microscopic observation and subsequent processing for visualization.

Their use is widespread in clinical cytology, clinical microbiology, and diagnostic hematology, especially in the analysis of biological fluids where cell numbers are low and cellular diversity is high.

Cyto 22

The Cyto 22 is designed for the concentration of biological samples onto a surface visible under the microscope, facilitating identification and characterization in clinical cytology, diagnostic hematology, and clinical microbiology procedures.
Its configuration allows work with low-concentration fluids, optimizing the recovery of cells and microorganisms for subsequent morphological analysis or specific staining.

Its main technical features include:

Detection of cells even in low-concentration fluids
Rapid identification of microorganisms
Preservation of cellular integrity through low-speed cycles (200–2,000 rpm)
Compatibility with disposable chambers of different volumes (0.1 ml to 6 ml)
Reduction of processing time to under 15 minutes
Alarm every 20 seconds at the end of the cycle to prevent sample drying
TFT touchscreen for quick parameter selection
REI system (Rotor Easy to Install) to reduce sterilization times
SmartConnect connectivity for remote control from PC, tablet, or mobile

Compatible accessories

Rotor RT 331
EZ Single Cytofunnel™
EZ Megafunnel™
Cyto-Clips™
Compatibility with tubes, microtubes, and plate rotors (Digicen 22 accessories)

The use of the RT 331 rotor together with specific funnels allows homogeneous deposition of the cellular sediment onto the slide, facilitating the subsequent application of stains such as Papanicolaou or Giemsa.

Clinical applications by sample type

A continuación, se detallan las principales aplicaciones y los beneficios del procesamiento de las muestras en la Cyto 22, asociados según el tipo de muestra procesada:

Tipo de muestra	Aplicaciones	Beneficios
Líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR)	Detección de células tumorales, infecciones fúngicas o bacterianas	Mejora la sensibilidad diagnóstica en meningitis y carcinomatosis leptomeníngea.
Líquido pleural y peritoneal	Identificación de células malignas o infecciones	Permite diagnóstico precoz de metástasis o tuberculosis peritoneal.
Orina	Citología urinaria para detección de carcinoma urotelial	Alta especificidad en lesiones de alto grado.
Esputo y lavado broncoalveolar	Diagnóstico de infecciones respiratorias, citología pulmonar	Mejora la detección de células neoplásicas y patógenos.
Sangre periférica y médula ósea	Estudio de células hematopoyéticas, leucemias, linfomas	Preserva la morfología celular para análisis hematológico.
Líquido sinovial	Identificación de cristales (gota, pseudogota) y células inflamatorias	Útil en reumatología para diagnóstico diferencial.
Secreciones cervicales y vaginales	Citología ginecológica (Papanicolaou)	Detección precoz de lesiones intraepiteliales.

In the clinical laboratory setting, cytocentrifuges are a specific tool for the preparation of liquid samples with low cellular concentration, allowing controlled concentration and distribution of cellular material prior to microscopic evaluation.

They are commonly used in cytology, pathology, microbiology, and biomedical research centers, where morphological preservation and process reproducibility are technical requirements. In this context, the Cyto 22 clinical cytology centrifuge by Ortoalresa is positioned as a model configured for cellular deposition onto microscope slides, with speed control between 200 and 2,000 rpm and compatibility with different sample volumes, within the range of Ortoalresa centrifuges designed for cytological preparation.