5 signs you’re using the wrong laboratory filter

1. It's noticeably slower than it used to be, or slower than expected

A persistent slow flow rate usually means either the pore rating is too tight for your particulate load, or the filtration area is too small for your volume. This is rarely fixed by pushing harder—it's a sizing or media problem. See our diameter guide and clogging guide.

2. You're clogging filters mid-run, regularly

If clogging is a recurring pattern rather than an occasional heavily-loaded sample, your filter's capacity doesn't match your typical particulate load—a depth-media prefilter or multilayer format is usually the fix.

3. Your results look different than they should

Unexpected peaks, suppressed signal, or inconsistent recovery can trace back to membrane extractables or analyte binding to the membrane surface—not just the sample itself. See our HPLC sample prep guide for what to check.

4. The housing or membrane looks visibly degraded

Cracking, clouding, swelling, or discoloration after use is a chemical compatibility problem, not normal wear—confirm both membrane and housing material against your actual solvent, not just what's convenient or in stock.

5. You're not confident it's actually removing what it should

If you can't clearly state the pore rating, material, and why they match your requirement, that's worth resolving before you standardize on the product—not after a result gets questioned.