What is the primary function of a peristaltic pump?

The primary function of a peristaltic pump is to transfer fluids without cross-contamination. This is achieved through its design, where fluid is contained within a flexible tube, and the pumping action is created by rollers or shoes that compress the tube sequentially. As the rollers move along the tube, they create a vacuum that draws fluid from the inlet, pushing it toward the outlet while preventing backflow.

Because the fluid only comes into contact with the interior of the tubing and not with the pump mechanism itself, the risk of contamination is significantly reduced compared with other types of pumps. This feature is crucial in applications like wastewater treatment, pharmaceuticals, and food processing, where maintaining the purity of the fluid is essential.

The other options do not capture the unique advantage of a peristaltic pump regarding contamination. While pushing water through a system and metering liquids accurately are characteristics of various pumps, they do not specifically highlight the contamination prevention aspect that is distinctive to peristaltic pumps. Likewise, creating pressure through suction is a general function associated with many pumps but does not align with the primary operational principle of a peristaltic pump.