FastPrep® Instruments
MP Bio offers a diverse range of bead beating, cell lysis and tissue homogenization solutions to suit your sample preparation needs.
Employing bead beating technology, the FastPrep™ system achieves the complete lysis of virtually any sample type, allowing you to generate consistent results with every experiment. Mechanical tissue homogenization with the FastPrep™ system facilitates the isolation of high-quality DNA, RNA, and proteins without the need for chemicals or enzymes, which can inhibit downstream processes.
Free Instrument Trial
Interested in using FastPrep® to prepare your samples? Our free trial offer allows you to try a FastPrep® instrument in your lab prior to purchasing.
Choose the right FastPrep homogenizer for your needs
| Image | Description | Sample Capacity | Adapters | Tube Compatibility | Cryogenic Lysis | Interface | Pre-Defined Protocols | User Defined Protocols | Min Speed | Max Speed | Acceleration | Deceleration | Motion | Typical Lysis Time (s) | Dimensions | Weight | Loudness | Power requirements | 110/230V switch | Links | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Super FastPrep-2 |
High-Performance, Handheld Field Lysis system | 2 | No | 2ml | No | manual-button | No | No | 500 CPM | 4,400 CPM | Ø 500 G | NA | Reciprocating | 5 | 13"L x 3.4"W x 4.6"H | 2.2 kg | <100dB | 90-240 V for battery charger, cordeless operation | Battery loader spec | |
 |
FastPrep-24 Classic |
Bench-Top Bead Beating Lysis System | Up to 48 | Interchangeable | 2ml, 4.5ml, 15ml, 50ml | Yes | LCD/membrane keyboard | No | 5 | 4.0 m/s | 6.5 m/s | <2 sec to max | <2 sec to stop | Figure 8 tridimentional | 40 | 465 mm (H) x 437 mm (W) x 332 mm (L) | 17.5 kg (45 lb) | 70 dB | 90-250 V AC, 50/60 Hz, 1,200 W | Automatic | |
 |
FastPrep 5G |
Advanced Bench-Top Bead Beating Lysis System | Up to 48 | Interchangeable | 2ml, 4.5ml, 15ml, 50ml | Yes | Touch Screen | 72 | 12 | 4.0 m/s | 10.0 m/s | <2 sec to max | <2 sec to stop | Figure 8 tridimentional | 20 | 490 mm (H) x 472 mm (W) x 385 mm (L) | 23.6 kg (52 lb) | <70 dB | 120 VAC/60 Hz, 500W; 230 VAC/50 Hz, 500 W |
Automatic | |
 |
FastPrep 96 |
High Throughput, High-Performance Bead Beating Lysis System | Up to 96 | Interchangeable | 2ml, 4.5ml, 15ml, 50ml, 96 plate, 250 ml | Yes | VFD/ industrial buttons | No | 1 | 800 RPM | 1800 RPM | <2 sec to max | <2 sec to stop | Vertical Linear | 40 | 700mm (H) x 440mm (W) x 660mm (L) | 49 kg (108 lb) | <65 dB | 110 VAC/60 Hz, 5.2A; 220 VAC/50 Hz, 2.6A |
Automatic |
Explore All FastPrep™ Instruments & Accessories
FastPrep-24™ 5G Instrument
An advanced and versatile bead beating instrument designed to quickly and efficiently homogenize biological samples.
FastPrep-24™ Classic Instrument
Get consistent results when homogenizing your samples with the affordable FastPrep-24 Classic lysis system.
FastPrep-96™ Instrument
The FastPrep-96 delivers performance, speed, and reproducibility as well as high-throughput lysis capabilities.
SuperFastPrep-2™
A hand-held sample disruption instrument designed to quickly and efficiently lyse biological samples at the bench or in the field.
FastPrep Lysing Matrix tubes
Our Lysing Matrices come in 16 unique matrix compositions to ensure reliable homogenization of any sample type without DNA/RNA shearing.
FastPrep Adapters
Catering for sample sizes ranging from 2 mL to 250 mL, our adapters deliver flexibility in your sample preparation workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use and leave my FastPrep in a cold room at 4 °C for a long period of time?
A: The operating temperature range for the FastPrep Instruments is from 2 – 48 °C so storing at 4 °C is not a problem. MP Bio has thoroughly tested using and storing a FastPrep in a cold room and have confirmed with other customers. It was built to be used at room temperature so there is a risk of condensation of water and impacting the effect of the motor oil.
Q: Can I use other tubes than the FastPrep Lysing Matrix tubes with my FastPrep Instrument?
No. MP Bio has tested a variety of tubes that either did not fit the FastPrep Instrument or were damaged by the vigorous shaking necessary for grinding. The MP Biomedicals Lysing Matrix tubes will provide the best and most accurate results and are the best available for use. BioPulverizer tubes are the only recommended alternative to the FastDNA and FastRNA Tubes.
Q: Should I balance the tubes when using a FastPrep Instrument?
A: No. The FastPrep is not a centrifuge and you do need to balance the tubes on adapters.
However, if you do not fill the tube holders completely, avoid having all your tubes in one location. Place your tubes evenly over all the holes in your adapter.
To ensure better stability for the top parts of the adapters, it is important that the adapter rests on more than two points. We recommend using these with a minimum of 4 tubes. Use empty tubes if necessary.
Q: With my new FastPrep 24 I received a set of 8 springs. How do I know when to use them?
A: Each instrument is equipped with two springs. We include spare springs to prevent delays that could be caused from a spring break. We recommend users change them approximately every two years depending on the frequency and intensity of use of the instrument. The procedure to replace a spring is in the user manual.
Q: There is nothing on the display of the FastPrep-24 Classic or FastPrep-24 5G but it is powered and turned on?
A:The device is shipped with the ‘Emergency Stop’ engaged for safety and will not run until disengaged. Disengage the ‘Emergency Stop’ by turning clockwise until it pops out.
Q: There was a power outage during a run with my FastPrep-24 5G and I need to get my samples back as soon as possible. How do I do that?
A: To open the ‘Dome’, pull the ‘Dome Release Cable’ on back plate of device to release the ‘Dome Latch’.
Q: What is the equivalence of m/s from FastPrep and rpm for other bead beaters?
A: The rpm value refers to the rotation per minute, but the motion on FastPrep-24 is not a rotating motion. The MP Bio FastPrep instrument has a tridimensional motion (8 motion) and m/sec refers to the distance done by the sample or bottom during one second. To convert from rpm to m/s, compare the number of turns carried out by the axis of the engine against the meter per second below.
Motor speed at 4.m/s is between 3400 to 4100 rpm.
Motor speed at 6.5 m/s is between 3700 to 4500 rpm.
This depends on the adapter used and the distance from tubes to the axis of the FastPrep.
Q: My tubes leaked while using the FastPrep Instrument. Why?
A: If the FastPrep Instrument is run at speeds higher than recommended, it is possible that the heavy ceramic spheres and cylinders can either crack the tubes or weaken the bottoms so that they break when spun. If working with samples that are difficult to lyse, run the FastPrep Instrument at the highest recommended speed for 20-30 seconds, place the tubes in an ice bath to cool, then process the samples again in the FastPrep Instrument. This can be repeated until lysis is complete.
The tubes may also leak if there is less than a 0.5 mL empty space inside the tube. During mechanical lysis, the temperature inside the tube rises, increasing the pressure, which can lead to tube failure.
Q: Is it possible to isolate virus particles from animal tissues with the FastPrep System?
A: Yes, Lysing Matrix A tubes can induce the lysis of viruses together with the animal cells. When the garnet sand is removed and the homogenization process is performed with one ceramic bead, the animal cells are lysed but not the virus, keeping the protein capsid intact. To perform this, set the FastPrep Instrument at a speed of 6.5 m/s for 20 seconds. Reference: Klempa B. et al. (2005) J.Clin.Microbiol. Vol 43(6); 2756-2763.
Q: What setting is recommended for a successful homogenization of skin samples?
A: Use Lysing Matrix A and do 4 runs of 20 seconds on the FastPrep Instrument at a speed of 6.0 m/s. Incubate samples on ice for 2 minutes between each run.
Bead Beating Resources
Sample Preparation Brochure
A comprehensive solution from tissue homogenization through to purification of DNA, RNA and proteins.
Read More
Environmental Brochure
From sample preparation to molecular analysis of environmental samples including soil, plant tissue and feces.
Read More
Challenges in Plant Research
Discover our range of reagents and instruments designed to meet the challenges of plant research.
Read More
Animal Research Brochure
Learn how MP Bio can support your animal research vat every stage.
Read ArticleHave an old FastPrep Instrument that you’d like to trade in?
Upgrade the performance of your homogenization with the FastPrep-24™, FastPrep-24™ 5G or FastPrep-96™and save by trading-in your old instruments. We accept all types of sample preparation instruments including broken instruments, competitor instruments, and damaged equipment.
