[A device for balancing the cups in donor blood centrifugation]

It is important to well balance the loads of the opposite cups with plastic blood containers in order to correctly separate the donor blood into its components through centrifugation. A new balancer for centrifugation cups (USC5-01, manufacturer--Biophysical Instruments Ltd., Moscow) was tested at the Blood Center of Russia's Health Ministry. The original weights of all cups placed on the device weight sensors differed in all cases by readings of the light-emitting diode scale, which necessitated an appropriate balancing. The weight differences varied from 4 to 20 g, i.e. from 1 to 5 green lamps). The testing of the device verified its simplicity, convenience, and a shorter time spent on each balancing procedure; the device response lag to balancing made only 2-3 sec. The minimal out-of-balance index did not exceed 4 g, which ensures the obtaining of components meeting the requirements applied to them.