PCV Packed Cell Volume Tube

The PCV tube enables a quick and reproducible measuring technique of the cell volume. This method is ideal for the monitoring of the tissue growth (cell mass).

If during a production process many parameters need to be optimized, many samples accumulate at the same time. Here a quick analysis with the PCV tube and the read-out process with „easy read“ is the method of the choice.

A short centrifugation step (1 minute at 2'500 gx) is sufficient to form a pellet in the calibrated capillary. There the pellet can be read with the “easy read” measuring device

Features of the PCV tube:

PCV tube with calibrated capillary, some available with volume graduation
Fits in micro-centrifuges
Caps available

Determination of cell number density is a routine task in almost every laboratory working with cell cultures. The most commonly used method is counting cells manually with the hemacytometer, which is very time-consuming, tedious and prone to errors (margin of error about 15 %).

The PCV-system provides a fast, easy to use, reproducible and more accurate alternative to manual cell counting. The PCV-tubes enable the determination of the packed cell volume (PCV) in a cell suspension, resulting in absolute data correlating with parameters like protein content, cell count, metabolic activity and others.

The PCV-tubes are particularly convenient to work with, requiring neither special training nor sophisticated expensive machines – in contrast to automated cell counting devices.

Good to know!

Calculation of cell density:

To determine the cell density from the biomass (PCV %) a calibration line must be established.

Take a 2 ml sample from a well mixed cell suspension.
Carry out a double determination for the PCV value (%) and for the cell density using the counting chamber (cell number/ml).
The frequency of sampling and measurements performed depends on the growth rate (doubling time) of the cells.
Enter the determined mean values in a table and create a diagram
Determine the linear equation based on the measured values
The cell density of a sample [cell number/ml] can be calculated from the determined straight line equatio

y = mx + b

m = Increase of the straight line
y = PCV [%]
x = Cell density [cell number/mL]
b = ordinate section

Cell density=(PCV-b)/m

Advices

With a very high density of the cells, the samples must not be diluted, simply reduce the sample volume. Samples from the same series should be treated accordingly.
For bacteria measurement the parameters have to be adjusted, for example higher gx-force, smaller volume, etc.
Use a centrifuge with a swinging bucket rotor accommodating 1.5 | 2 ml centrifuge tubes. Alternatively, you can either place the PCV tubes in 15 ml conical bottom centrifuge tubes or run them in the appropriate rotor or you can apply a fixed angle rotor instead.

Downloads

Type	Product No.	Version	Volume (ml)	Dimensions (mm)	Material	Qty / Bag	Qty / Case	Case (kg)
	87005	with graduations, without cap	1	10.5 x 43	PS	50	250	0.6
	87007	no graduations, without cap	1	10.5 x 43	PS	50	150	0.2
	87008	cap for PCV tube	-	13.5	PE	50	150	0.1