Optimum centrifugation conditions for the preparation of platelet and plasma products

Units of whole blood were centrifuged for various periods of times and at various speeds to prepare platelet-rich plasma. It was found that several sets of centrifugation conditions resulted in an optimum yield of platelets and plasma. This optimum was approximately 8.3 x 10(10) platelets in 245 ml of plasma. When platelet-rich plasma was centrifuged, a maximum of approximately 95 per cent of the platelets could be recovered in the concentrate. Although this maximum was also achieved by several sets of centrifugation conditions, the most efficient method was 3,800 RPM (3731 x g) for four minutes at speed.