Don’t lose platelets to the gel: simple tweaks boost PRP yield from thixotropic systems
We are pulling out this must-read article from the vault. This brief report from the November 2024 issue highlights a frequently overlooked limitation of thixotropic‑gel PRP tubes: platelets can become trapped at the gel’s upper surface during centrifugation, reducing the final platelet yield. The authors describe pragmatic steps to recover those platelets—gentle agitation to re‑suspend platelets adherent to the gel, tailoring G‑force and centrifugation time to the device and desired fraction, and using a horizontal swing‑bucket centrifuge to produce a more uniform separation and reduce interface entrapment. They propose that applying these simple procedural adjustments can meaningfully raise platelet counts in the recovered plasma and offer a reproducible way forward for both clinical and research PRP work.
The message is practical: when using thixotropic‑gel tubes, verify your centrifuge type and protocol, document pre‑ and post‑processing platelet concentrations, incorporate gentle resuspension steps where appropriate, and prefer horizontal swing‑bucket rotors if available. Treat these modifications as quality‑control measures—validate them locally and report platelet yields—to ensure your PRP preparations deliver the cellular payload you expect and to help standardize outcomes across clinics and studies.
J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(11):979-985. doi:10.36849/JDD.7983
Blog write-up assisted by AI
