Journal of Clinical Apheresis 4:93-96 (1988)
Haemonetics Plasma Collection System (PCS):
Automated Collection of Platelet-Poor or
Platelet-Rich Plasma
James W. Smith
Haernonetics Corporation, Braintree, Massachusetts
The PCS is an automated centrifugal system designed for rapid collection of platelet poor plasma (PPP) for source
or fresh frozen uses, or platelet concentrate and PPP. The microprocessor-controlled system increases plasma
collection efficiency through improved plasma yields, increased donor safety, and operation of multiple machines
per operator.
600 ml of plasma can be collected in an average of 35 minutes per procedure with greater than 50,000
collections by U. S. commercial organizations. PCS plasma yields 10% greater Factor VIII recovery through
fractionation when compared to manually-collected plasma based upon multiple studies throughout the world.
Collection of PRP is an efficient, reliable, safe, and cost-effective method for processing plasma and the only
system available for combined platelet and plasma procurement.
Key words: automated plasma collection, donor plasmapheresis, platelet-poor plasma, platelet-rich plasma
INTRODUCTION The system is a microprocessor-controlled device which
integrates simplified preprogrammed operation with the
The Plasma Collection System is an automated, mi- capacity for manual override. This allows for automatic
croprocessor-based, centrifugal system for the rapid col- or manual control of protocols. The donor safety features
lection of platelet-poor plasma for source or fresh frozen include the flow control system, pressure sensors, and
therapeutic uses, or for the collection of platelet-rich
ultrasonic air detectors. The plasma weigher is pro-
plasma for subsequent harvesting of platelet concentrate grammable and controls the amount of plasma to be
and platelet poor plasma. The automated system for collected.
plasma collection was developed based upon several key
A centrifuge bowl designed for plasma collection is
demand factors; automation leads to increased safety for most commonly used in the PCS. This bowl is a conically
the donor, increased protein yield and collection eff- shaped, simple bowl which is placed into shoes, as is
ciency, decreased cost of the product, and overall reduces indicated in Figure 2, and then the entire assembly is
the number of donors required to provide the plasma slipped into the centrifuge chuck. By altering the centri-
necessary for fractionation and for therapeutic uses. Au- fuge speed one can collect a platelet-poor plasma or
tomated plasma collection using the PCS has been a key
platelet-rich plasma depending upon the product desired.
factor in the development of plasma self-sufficiency pro-
grams in nations throughout the world.
PCS PROTOCOLS
PCS FEATURES The PCS is most commonly used to collect platelet-
poor plasma. This preprogrammed protocol for platelet-
The Plasma Collection System is shown in Figure 1. poor plasma uses a 1 :16 anticoagulant-to-whole-blood
The PCS is a small, compact, easily portable, self-con- ratio, and in the United States the anticoagulant that is
tained device for the collection of plasma and/or plasma most commonly used is a 4% trisodium citrate solution.
and platelets. The system features a number of automated The programmed centrifuge speed is 5,650 rpm and the
components designed to optimize plasma collection effi- plasma weigher is set at the desired volume of collection
ciency while maintaining donor safety. The PCS operates depending upon donor characteristics. Draw speed typi-
as a one-arm procedure and features self-adjusting flow cally is 80 ml/min. The platelet-poor plasma protocol
control based upon donor pressure monitoring. This al-
lows the system to sense pressure as the blood flows
from the donor and adjust the pump speed as necessary.
The system has a variable centrifuge speed which allows Address reprint requests to James W. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Oklahoma
for the separation of either plasma or platelets and plasma. Blood Institute, 1001 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73104.
0 1988 Alan R. Liss, Inc.
94 Smith
Fig. 1. The Haemonetics Plasma Collection System (PCS), a fully automated plasma collection system
developed for collection of platelet-poor plasma (source or therapeutic uses) or platelet-rich plasma (for
platelet concentrate and source plasma).
Haemonetics Plasma Collection System 95
Fig. 2. The Haemonetics Plasma Bowl and demonstration of placement into shoes prior to mounting in
the centrifuge chuck.
TABLE I. Comparison of Factor VIII Yields From Recovered Manual Plasma and Haemonetics-
Derived Plasma For Their 8Y Fractionation Process*
Factor VIII processing yield Finishing yield
(IU/kg plasma) (IU/kg plasma)
Source Cryoprecipitate Heparin
Dlasrna extract suoernatant Filtered Dried
Recovered 412 f 59 338 f 19 195 185
8Y (n=6) (n=2)
Haemonetics 496 + 38 390 f 41 272 + 40 243 f 28
8Y (n= 19) (n=ll)
*Evans et al. [I].
results in approximately 600 ml of a platelet-poor product PCS-USE FOR SOURCE PLASMA
with platelet counts generally less than 30,000 per
microliter. The Plasma Collection System is in worldwide use; a
For platelet-rich plasma, the PCS is programmed for number of commercial and national organizations are
the platelet-rich plasma program which uses a 1:12 anti- developing programs utilizing automated plasma collec-
coagulant-to-whole-blood ratio; acid citrate dextrose tion for their source plasma needs. In the United States
NIH-Formula A (ACD-A) is commonly used. In this greater than 50,000 procedures have been performed
mode, the centrifuge speed operates at 4,200 rpm and using the PCS, primarily by the commercial collectors
again the draw speed will typically be 80 ml/min. The Cutter and Alpha Therapeutics. Internationally, there has
plasma weigher is set at 600 g. The platelet-rich plasma been a strong program developed in both the United
program yields 1.5-2.5 x 10" platelets and approxi- Kingdom and Scandinavia for voluntary donor programs
mately 500 ml of platelet-poor plasma following a sec- for national self-sufficiency in source plasma. These pro-
ondary spin of the PCS product. grams have been proceeding well and are largely auto-
96 Smith
mated using the PCS system at this time. Several other source or therapeutic uses, and for platelet-rich plasma
markets, including France and Japan, are currently using for secondary separation of platelet concentrate and
the platelet-rich plasma protocol to collect a double prod- platelet poor plasma. The PCS increases plasma collec-
uct for both source plasma and platelets for therapeutic tion efficiency with improved plasma yields from the
uses. donor. In addition, there is improved protein recovery
In general use the PCS has been able to generate from the fractionation process. The PCS enhances donor
approximately 600 ml of product in an average of 35 safety by providing multiple donor safety features and
minutes. This compares very favorably to the 85 minutes systems. Collection efficiency is improved owing to de-
cited for manual plasma collection. Factor VIII yields creased donor time and the ability of one operator to
from fractionation have ranged from 10% to 20 % greater manage multiple machines. The Plasma Collection Sys-
than for manual plasma. Table I shows sample data from tem is a safe, efficient device permitting rapid collection
the United Kingdom group in which Factor VIII yields of a quality plasma product.
from recovered manual plasma and Haemonetics-derived
plasma are compared for their 8Y fractionation process.
Increased yields of Factor VIII are evident throughout
each of the processing steps of fractionation.
REFERENCES
CONCLUSIONS
1. Evans DR, Robinson AE, Smith JK. Plasma fractionation and
The Plasma Collection System provides for automated machine plasmapheresis. Plasma Ther Transfus Techno1 7:33-40.
procedures for the collection of platelet-poor plasma for 1986.
