DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DIFFERENT PREPARATION PROTOCOLS FOR PLATELET-RICH PLASMA (PRP) IN YIELDING HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF PLATELETS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:
Despite the various methods described in producing platelet-rich plasma (PRP), it is well established that this biological product in its many preparations have been proven to enhance wound healing. However, very little have been known about the efficacy of these methods hence there is a lack of evidence in the superiority of one method over another. Thus, a study was conducted to compare these different protocols to determine which produces the highest concentration of platelets.

METHODS:
Peripheral blood was obtained from 24 healthy volunteers. Four different protocols using similar 2 step centrifugation methods of preparing PRP were applied to an equal number of samples in this study. Platelet counts were performed on whole blood (without processing), PRP preparations and platelet-poor plasma (PPP).

RESULTS:
All protocols produced higher amounts of platelet concentrates in PRP preparations than plasma. However, centrifugation at 150g for 10 minutes followed by another at 450g at 10 minutes produces significantly higher amount of platelets concentration (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION:
Optimizing the protocols to produce PRP appears to be important in obtaining a maximal yield of platelet concentrate. Here the protocol described has shown to provide significant concentration yield over all others.