The Z216-05-C10 is a 1.0 mL flat-cap cryotube adapter for the Hermle Z216 series 5 mL reaction tube rotor on the Z216-M / Z216-MK high-speed microcentrifuge chassis, sold as a 6-pack. The 5 mL reaction tube rotor accepts 5 mL conical tubes directly, but cryotubes (1.0 mL flat-cap, 1.8 mL round, etc.) have smaller envelopes and require dedicated adapters to seat correctly and balance properly at the rotor's high RCF. The C10 adapter is the flat-cap 1.0 mL cryotube specific format.
Key Specifications
| SKU | Z216-05-C10 |
| Type | Cryotube adapter (5 mL position → 1.0 mL flat-cap cryotube) |
| Pack quantity | 6 adapters per SKU |
| Tube format accepted | 1 × 1.0 mL flat-cap cryotube per adapter |
| Compatible rotor | Z216 5 mL reaction tube rotor (12-position 5 mL fixed-angle on Z216-M / Z216-MK) |
| Compatible chassis | Z216-M, Z216-MK (refrigerated), and -E voltage variants: Z216 family chassis with the 5 mL reaction tube rotor installed |
| Max. operating speed (with adapter + cryotube) | Per the host 5 mL rotor spec (high-speed microcentrifuge RCF range) |
| List price | $248 (6-pack) |
Compatibility & When to Order This SKU
Adapter pairing: Z216 5 mL reaction tube rotor only. The Z216-05-C10 is engineered to fit the 5 mL position envelope on the Z216 5 mL rotor. Order this SKU when:
- Adding 1.0 mL flat-cap cryotube workflow to an existing Z216-M / Z216-MK + 5 mL rotor install.
- Cryostorage aliquot prep. When biobank or sample-archive workflows generate 1.0 mL flat-cap cryotube aliquots and centrifugation is part of the prep.
- Replacement adapters if a current set is damaged or worn.
- Mixed-cryotube-format workflows. Pair with the Z216-05-C18 (1.8 mL round cryotube adapter) when the lab handles both flat-cap and round cryotube formats.
Cryotube Adapter Format Matters
Cryotube formats vary by manufacturer and intended use:
- Flat-cap cryotubes (e.g., 1.0 mL Nunc, Corning, Thermo screw-cap), flat-bottom or flat-shoulder geometry; the C10 adapter is dimensioned for this format
- Round-bottom cryotubes (e.g., 1.8 mL skirted external-thread), different shoulder geometry; require the Z216-05-C18 adapter
Using the wrong adapter risks tube fit problems (tube doesn't seat fully, or rocks within the adapter) and balance problems at the rotor's high-RCF operating range. Confirm cryotube format against the adapter family before ordering.
Application Profile
Biobank cryotube aliquot processing. Research biobanks and sample archives that generate 1.0 mL flat-cap cryotube aliquots for cryostorage benefit from in-rotor centrifugation when the workflow includes a settle/spin step before storage transfer.
Cell-line cryopreservation prep. Cell-line freezing protocols that use 1.0 mL flat-cap cryotubes for the freeze format; the spin step concentrates cells for resuspension in cryoprotectant before transfer to the freezing container.
Clinical-research aliquot workflows. Patient sample aliquoting into 1.0 mL flat-cap cryotubes for downstream cryostorage and analytical batch shipping.
Cross-format Z216 microcentrifuge consolidation: labs running both 5 mL conical tube workflows (no adapter, direct fit on the rotor) and 1.0 mL flat-cap cryotube workflows can use the same chassis + rotor with the C10 adapter for the cryotube runs.
Loading & Balance
Symmetric adapter loading. Pair adapter positions across the rotor by tube mass; all positions in a balanced pair must use matching adapter + tube format. Mixed adapter / non-adapter loading produces mass asymmetry at high RCF.
Cryotube cap confirmation. Cryotube screw caps must be fully seated and torqued before spinning, partial cap seating risks sample loss at high RCF and contamination of the rotor and adapter set.
Adapter seat verification. Confirm each C10 adapter is fully seated in its 5 mL position envelope before loading the cryotube.
Ordering & Configuration
Z216-05-C10 ships as 6 adapters. Cryotubes are operator-supplied (commodity biobank cryotube formats from Nunc, Corning, Thermo, and similar suppliers).
Confirm at quote: rotor pairing (Z216 5 mL reaction tube rotor in inventory), chassis pairing (Z216-M or Z216-MK), cryotube format (flat-cap 1.0 mL confirmed), pack count needed for the workflow, and lead time.
Warranty: 5-Year Hermle warranty (3 years full + 2 years drivetrain) on the adapters.
Z216 5 mL rotor cryotube adapter family:
- Z216-05-C10 (this product): 1.0 mL flat-cap cryotube adapter
- Z216-05-C18: 1.8 mL round-bottom cryotube adapter
Match the adapter to the cryotube format. Workflows using both cryotube formats on the same chassis benefit from stocking both adapter SKUs.
