Centrifuge and method for centrifuging a reaction vessel unit

A centrifuge for cleaning a reaction vessel unit that includes a plurality of reaction vessels, each reaction vessel including an opening, the centrifuge comprising:

• a housing having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, wherein a drain is provided for discharging fluid expelled from the reaction vessel unit, wherein the housing comprises an opening for loading and unloading the centrifuge with the reaction unit vessel;
• a rotor disposed within the housing, the rotor being configured to hold the reaction vessel unit with its opening directed outwardly;
• a motor coupled with the rotor to rotate the rotor around a rotation axis;
• and
• a dispensing device adjacent the opening in the housing, the dispensing device being configured to automatically dispense a fluid into the plurality of reaction vessels of the reaction vessel unit.

A method for cleaning a reaction vessel unit with a centrifuge comprising a rotor for holding the reaction vessel unit such that one or more openings in the reaction vessel unit are directed outwardly, a motor for rotating the rotor around a rotation axis, a loading mechanism, a housing having a substantially cylindrical inner surface and comprising an opening for loading and unloading the centrifuge with the reaction vessel unit by means of the loading mechanism, and a dispensing device located adjacent the opening, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the reaction vessel unit, by use of the loading mechanism, into the opening of the housing and thereby below the dispensing device;
• dispensing a fluid into the reaction vessel unit by means of the dispensing device;
• and
• centrifuging the reaction vessel unit.