What is Platelet Rich Plasma?

Platelet Rich Plasma, PRPis blood plasma with highly concentrated platelets. Platelets are a specialized type of blood cell involved in injury healing. Platelets also contain large reservoirs of natural growth factors. While a normal concentration of platelets circulating in your blood is 200,000 per micro liter, the platelet count in Platelet Rich Plasma can exceed 2 million platelets per micro liter. To be considered PRPthe platelet count must be 4x or greater above baseline.

Normal Platelet Count

Concentrated Platelet Count

When concentrating platelets, 7 fundamental protein growth factors (also called cytokines) are concentrated.

Platelet-derived growth factors - PDGFaa, PDGFab, PDGFbb
Transforming growth factors - TGFb1, TGFb2
Vascular endothelial growth factors - VEGF
Epithelial growth factors - EGF

This concentrate also contains 3 proteins in the blood to act as cell adhesion molecules: fibrin, fibronectin, and vitronectin. Clinical data has shown that the concentration of growth factors may help optimized conditions for bone healing.

How is Platelet Rich Plasma made?

Platelet Rich Plasma is collected by drawing 20 - 60 cc of blood (500 cc is taken in blood bank donations), the blood is then put into the Harvest SmartPReP®2 Platelet Concentrate System and spun down separating the red blood cells, plasma and concentrating the platelets.

Plasma

Is Platelet Rich Plasma Safe?

Since Platelet Rich Plasma is Autologous (from the self) there is no chance of rejection or adverse effects.