How Is PRP Made? Step-by-Step Guide to the Centrifuge Process

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product—meaning it uses your own blood—concentrated to deliver high levels of platelets, growth factors and cytokines to promote healing. Understanding the PRP preparation process can help you feel more informed and comfortable if you're considering this treatment for hair restoration, skin rejuvenation, joint pain relief or musculoskeletal injuries.

This guide walks you through each step of the clinical centrifuge process, from blood draw to final PRP collection. Wherever there could be serious or life-threatening concerns, remember to speak to a doctor. If you're experiencing symptoms and want quick guidance before your appointment, try Ubie's free AI symptom checker to better understand your condition.

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1. Patient Evaluation and Preparation

Before any PRP treatment, a licensed healthcare provider will:

• Review your medical history
  • Check for bleeding disorders, active infections, certain medications (e.g., anticoagulants) that could interfere with PRP preparation or safety
• Obtain informed consent
• Discuss realistic treatment expectations
• Ensure you are well-hydrated and have eaten, to facilitate blood draw and reduce the risk of dizziness

If you're unsure whether PRP is right for you or have symptoms of an underlying condition, use Ubie's free AI symptom checker to help identify potential health concerns.

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2. Blood Collection

1. Antiseptic Skin Prep
   The provider cleans the venipuncture site (usually the arm) with an antiseptic solution to minimize infection risk.

2. Blood Draw

   • A standard blood collection needle and sterile tube(s) are used.
   • Typical volume: 15–60 mL of whole blood, depending on the desired PRP yield.
   • Tubes contain an anticoagulant (e.g., sodium citrate) to prevent clotting before centrifugation.

3. Labeling and Tracking

   • Each tube is labeled with patient ID and time of draw to ensure sample integrity.

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3. First Centrifugation ("Soft Spin")

The goal of the first spin is to separate the blood into three basic layers without pelleting the platelets:

1. Setup

   • Tubes are balanced in the centrifuge rotor
   • Centrifuge settings vary by machine but commonly:
     • Speed: 1,000–1,200 × g (around 1,500–2,000 rpm)
     • Time: 7–10 minutes

2. Separation
   After the spin, you'll see:

   • Bottom layer: red blood cells (RBCs)
   • Middle "buffy coat": white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets
   • Top layer: platelet-poor plasma (PPP)

3. Careful Aspiration

   • Using a pipette or syringe, the provider carefully draws off the top plasma and buffy coat into a new sterile tube, avoiding RBCs.

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4. Second Centrifugation ("Hard Spin")

This spin concentrates the platelets by forcing them to the bottom of the tube:

1. Setup

   • The collected plasma + buffy coat is re-centrifuged.
   • Typical settings:
     • Speed: 1,500–2,500 × g (around 2,000–3,000 rpm)
     • Time: 5–7 minutes

2. Platelet Pellet Formation

   • Platelets form a small pellet at the tube's base.
   • The top fraction is PPP; the bottom is platelet-rich.

3. Final Separation

   • The provider carefully removes most of the PPP, leaving a small volume (e.g., 3–6 mL) to resuspend the platelet pellet.
   • Gentle mixing (inversion or slow pipetting) re-suspends platelets into the plasma.

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5. Quality Checks

To ensure the PRP preparation process has yielded a product with adequate platelet concentration:

• Platelet Count
  • Ideally 3–5× baseline platelet concentration (i.e., 1,000,000–1,500,000 platelets/µL).
• Sterility
  • Strict aseptic technique throughout minimizes contamination risk.
• Visual Inspection
  • The final PRP should look like a pale yellow to amber fluid, free of clots.

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6. Activation (Optional)

Some protocols call for "activating" PRP before injection to trigger release of growth factors:

• Calcium Chloride or Thrombin
  • Small amounts can be added to initiate clotting cascade in vitro.
• In Vivo Activation
  • Others rely on tissue collagen and thrombin in the body to activate PRP after injection.

Activation method depends on the intended application (e.g., orthopedic vs. aesthetic uses).

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7. PRP Injection or Application

Once prepared, PRP may be used in various ways:

• Injections
  • Joints (e.g., knee osteoarthritis), tendons (e.g., tennis elbow), muscles, scalp for hair restoration.
• Topical Use
  • Combined with microneedling for skin rejuvenation.
• Surgical Adjunct
  • Placed into wounds or surgical sites to promote healing.

A licensed provider will choose the appropriate delivery technique and injection depth based on the treatment area.

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Key Considerations and Best Practices

• Maintain sterile technique at every step to prevent infection.
• Use proper centrifuge calibration; rotor size and tube type influence g-force.
• Document centrifuge settings, times and platelet counts for quality control.
• Understand the difference between leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) and leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP).
• Communicate realistic outcomes: PRP can accelerate healing, but it may take weeks to months for full effect.

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Potential Risks and Side Effects

PRP is generally considered safe because it uses your own blood. Mild, transient side effects can include:

• Pain or discomfort at the injection site
• Minor bruising or swelling
• Temporary increase in pain ("flare") before improvement

Serious complications are rare but may include infection or tissue damage if not performed correctly. Always have PRP prepared and administered by a trained, licensed professional.

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Aftercare and Follow-Up

• Follow your provider's recommendations on activity restriction (often light movement is encouraged).
• Apply ice and over-the-counter pain relief if needed.
• Attend any recommended follow-up visits to monitor healing and determine if additional PRP sessions are needed.

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When to Consult a Physician

• If you develop high fever, severe pain, redness or swelling that worsens after 48 hours
• If you have uncontrolled bleeding, persistent dizziness after blood draw, or other alarming symptoms

For non-urgent concerns or to check your symptoms before seeing a doctor, try Ubie's free AI-powered symptom checker for immediate guidance. For anything life-threatening or serious, please speak to a doctor immediately.

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Summary

The PRP preparation process involves:

1. Patient evaluation and consent
2. Blood draw with anticoagulant
3. First "soft" centrifugation to separate plasma
4. Second "hard" centrifugation to concentrate platelets
5. Quality checks for platelet count and sterility
6. Optional activation of PRP
7. Injection or application to the treatment site

Understanding these steps can help you make an informed decision and discuss specifics with your healthcare provider. Always ensure PRP is prepared in a licensed clinical setting by trained personnel. And if you have any concerning symptoms or need personalized medical advice, speak to a doctor.