If you have ever swirled a glass of wine, you already know the move behind every vortex mixer, including the multi-tube vortex mixer. You keep the base of the glass anchored, make a very light circular movement, and the wine starts to swirl.[1] Scientists call this motion orbital shaking, and it mixes liquids "in an efficient and simple way."[2] The same gesture now runs one of the world's largest orbitally shaken bioreactors, with a total volume of more than 3,000 L.[1]
A vortex mixer does the same thing on a tiny scale and very fast. A motor moves a cup or platform in a tight circle, and the width of that circle is called the orbit. On a single-tube vortexer you press one tube into a rubber cup. A multi-tube vortex mixer puts the same motion under a foam rack, so a whole rack of tubes mixes at once, hands-free, for as long as you set the timer.
To choose one, match six things to your work: the tube sizes you use, the speed range, the orbit, the timer and run modes, the load the platform can carry, and how you will handle biohazardous samples. This guide explains each in plain terms and ends with a side-by-side comparison.
Key takeaways
- A multi-tube vortex mixer gives every tube in a rack the same speed and the same mixing time, without anyone holding them.
- Pick it by your tubes first: check that the racks cover the outer diameters you use.
- Look for a wide speed range with fine control and a timer long enough for your longest protocol step.
- Vortexing can create aerosols, so keep caps tight and follow your biosafety rules for infectious samples.
In this guide
What a multi-tube vortex mixer does (and what it doesn't)
The vortex mixer is younger than you might think. Two brothers in New York sketched the idea on October 20, 1958, and built their first prototype just three days later. Their patent was filed in 1959 and granted on October 30, 1962.[3] The design was simple: a small, powerful motor under a rubber cup that moved "in tight orbital motions."[3]
A multi-tube vortex mixer keeps that tight orbit but swaps the cup for a flat platform with a foam rack. Here is how it compares with nearby equipment:
- Single-tube vortexer: quick and cheap for one tube at a time, but you hold each tube by hand, so mixing time and pressure vary from tube to tube.
- Multi-function vortexer with adapters: one compact unit that switches between a touch cup, tube adapters and a microplate tray. Good when formats change often and batches are modest.
- Multi-tube vortex platform: built for batches. Every tube in the rack gets the same speed and time, and you can walk away while it runs.
- Tube roller: gentle rolling for blood tubes and viscous samples that should not be shaken hard. It does not create a vortex.
- Thermo-shaker: mixes microtubes or plates in a heated block. Choose it when temperature matters as much as mixing.
One tube in a cup, or a whole rack on a platform
Orbit and speed: what actually mixes the tube
When the platform circles, the liquid in each tube lags behind the wall and starts to rotate. At low speed you get a gentle wave. Turn it up and the surface pulls down into the funnel shape that gives the vortex mixer its name. Research on orbitally shaken containers found a wide variety of surface patterns, from single and multiple crested waves to breaking waves, depending on the operating settings.[2]
In practice, two numbers control this:
- Orbit: how far the platform travels in each circle. Vortex mixers use small orbits of a few millimeters, so the motion is quick and tight rather than a slow, wide swirl.
- Speed: how many circles per minute, in RPM. Low speeds suit resuspending cells or mixing reagents gently; high speeds suit dissolving pellets, breaking up clumps and lysis steps.
Engineers studying the same motion found that, with three constant parameters, they could reproduce the same waveform whatever the size of the container.[1] For you, the useful takeaway is simpler: once you find a speed and time that work for a sample type, write them down and reuse them, and a timed multi-tube unit will repeat them exactly for every tube.
Six things to check before you buy
1. Tube sizes and racks
Start with your tubes, not the mixer. Measure the outer diameter of each tube type you plan to run, then check that a rack covers it. A tube that sits loose in its rack rattles instead of mixing, and one that is forced in can crack. The Novara™ MTV-50 ships with six foam racks whose ranges together span outer diameters from 8 mm to 32 mm.
Which rack fits your tube? Outer diameter covered by each MTV-50 rack
2. Speed range and speed accuracy
A wide range lets one unit handle both gentle and vigorous protocols. Check the lowest speed as well as the highest: the low end matters for fragile samples and for liquids that foam. Speed accuracy tells you how closely the unit holds the number you set. The MTV-50 runs from 500 RPM to 3,000 RPM with ±10 RPM accuracy, driven by a brushless DC motor.
3. Orbit
Most multi-tube vortex mixers use an orbit of a few millimeters. A slightly larger orbit moves more liquid per circle, which helps with larger tubes and thicker samples. A smaller orbit is common on compact units that also mix microplates. The MTV-50 uses a 4 mm horizontal orbit.
4. Timer and run modes
A timer is what turns a vortexer into a repeatable method. Look for a range that covers your longest step, plus modes that match how you work:
- Continuous: runs until you stop it, for quick mixing between steps.
- Timed: runs for a set time and stops on its own. The MTV-50 timer runs from 1 min to 99 h 59 min.
- Pulse: starts and stops at intervals, which helps resuspend settled material. On the MTV-50 the pulse interval is 10 s.
5. Load capacity and stability
A full rack of large tubes is heavy, and it all moves in a circle many times per second. Check the maximum load and how solid the base is. A classic vortex mixer weighs about 8.8 lbs.[3] The MTV-50 weighs 37.5 lbs and carries up to 4.5 kg, so it stays put on the bench at full speed. Its top cover also lifts by up to 11.8", which leaves room for tall tubes.
6. Safety with biohazardous samples
Vortexing puts a lot of energy into a small volume. A university biosafety guide lists "stirring or vortexing liquids" among activities that may produce infectious biological aerosols.[5] One safety office notes that vortexing, blending and homogenizing raise the risk of aerosol creation significantly, and recommends doing all three inside a biosafety cabinet when you work with biohazardous material.[4] Use tubes with screw caps or secure snap caps, check them before every run, and follow your institution's biosafety rules.
Multi-tube platform or multi-function vortexer?
Novara offers two ways to mix many tubes at once. The MTV-50 is a dedicated multi-tube platform. The Novara™ MPV7 is a compact multi-function vortexer that swaps between a touch cup, seven foam tube adapters and a microplate tray. Here is how they compare.
| Feature |
 MTV-50
|
 MPV7
|
|---|---|---|
| Speed range | 500–3,000 RPM | 200–3,000 RPM |
| Orbit | 4 mm | 3 mm |
| Timer range | 1 min to 99 h 59 min | 1 s to 999 min |
| Run modes | Continuous, timed, pulse, inching | Touch, continuous |
| Holders included | 6 foam tube racks | 7 foam tube adapters and a microplate tray |
| Labware | Tubes | Tubes, PCR strips and microplates |
| Weight | 37.5 lbs | 8.8 lbs |
| Best fit | Large batches of the same tube type, long or repeated runs | Mixed formats and modest batches on a small bench |
The short version: the Novara MTV-50 is the better choice when you run many tubes of the same type and want long, timed or pulsed runs with a heavy, stable base. The MPV7 covers more formats in a much smaller footprint, including microplates and PCR strips, and is the better fit when your sample types change from day to day.
Tips for even mixing in every tube
- Match each tube to the right rack. The tube should sit snugly, upright and fully seated, with no wobble.
- Load the rack evenly. Spread tubes across the rack instead of filling one side, so the platform stays balanced.
- Leave headspace. A vortex needs room to form. Avoid filling tubes to the brim, and size the tube to the sample volume.
- Ramp up the speed. Start low, then increase until the liquid in each tube forms a clear vortex without reaching the cap.
- Use the timer every time. Record the speed and time for each sample type in your protocol, so every run and every user gets the same result.
- Check caps before you start. Tighten screw caps and press snap caps fully closed, and work in a biosafety cabinet when your biosafety rules call for it.
- Keep the racks clean. Wipe up spills promptly and replace foam racks that lose their grip.
Which setup fits your lab?
- You mix one or two tubes at a time between steps: a single-tube vortexer is all you need.
- You process batches of the same tube type and want hands-free, timed runs: a multi-tube vortex platform such as the MTV-50.
- Your formats change daily, including microplates and PCR strips: a multi-function vortexer with adapters such as the MPV7.
- You spin, mix and spin PCR strips over and over: an automated mini centrifuge and vortex combination such as the Novara MCV-8.
- Your samples need heat while they mix: a block Novara Thermo-Shaker for microtubes, or a heated plate shaker for microplates (see our heated microplate shaker buying guide).
- Your samples should be mixed gently, like whole blood: a tube roller such as the Novara TRT006.
Frequently asked questions
What is a multi-tube vortex mixer used for?
It mixes a full rack of tubes at once with the same speed and time for each tube. Common uses include sample preparation, resuspending cells or pellets, DNA and RNA extraction steps, protein mixing and clinical sample processing.
What speed should I use?
Use the speed in your protocol or kit instructions when one is given. If not, start low and increase until each tube shows a clear vortex without liquid reaching the cap, then record that setting for next time.
Can a multi-tube vortex mixer hold different tube sizes at once?
Each rack is sized for a range of outer diameters, so one run usually uses one rack and one tube size. If you mix many formats in small numbers, a multi-function vortexer with interchangeable adapters may suit you better.
Is vortexing safe for infectious samples?
Vortexing is listed among activities that may produce infectious aerosols,[5] and one university safety office recommends vortexing biohazardous material inside a biosafety cabinet.[4] Keep caps secure and always follow your institution's biosafety rules.
How is a vortex mixer different from an orbital shaker?
Both move in a circle. A vortex mixer uses a tight orbit at high speed to whip up a vortex inside each tube. An orbital shaker uses a wider orbit at lower speed for flasks and bottles, and a tube roller rolls tubes gently without a vortex.
Still deciding which mixer fits your workflow? Browse all Novara vortex mixers, or contact our team with your tube types and protocol and we'll help you choose.
References
- Barraud E. The swirling of wine helps bioreactors to run better. EPFL News. 30 November 2011. actu.epfl.ch
- Reclari M, et al. Surface wave dynamics in orbital shaken cylindrical containers. Physics of Fluids. 2014. arxiv.org
- Watkins-Dulaney E. Making the Vortex Mixer. Asimov Press. 12 February 2026. press.asimov.com
- Bullard K. Biosafety Tricky Topics: Aerosols and Biohazards. Michigan State University Environmental Health & Safety. 31 October 2022. ehs.msu.edu
- Managing Infectious Aerosols (LS-BIO-002). University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Laboratory Safety Services. Revised 24 April 2023. ehs.utk.edu
- Novara Scientific. MTV-50 Multi-Tube Vortex Mixer specifications. novarasci.com
Figures 1 and 2 were drawn by Novara Scientific from the sources above.
