What is in the bottle?

From the diagram you can see the different components of blood after it has been centrifuged.

We are looking to extract the PRP from this into a syringe and ready for injection.

As mentioned above, you will be able to extract approximately 2ml from a 10ml tube. Hence why larger treatment areas may require 20mls blood to be extracted.

Diagram C – Centrifuged blood

What are platelets?

Platelets are very small blood cells which enable the body to form ‘clots’ (Thrombus) to stop bleeding. If a blood vessel becomes damaged for example, it will send out signals for platelets. Platelets will then rush to the damaged area to form a clot and immediately stop the bleeding.

This process is called adhesion. This is because, when platelets rush over to an injured site, they grow sticky tentacles (like a spider or octopus) that helps them adhere to one another. The additional platelets pile onto the clot in a process called aggregation.

Platelets are made in your bone marrow along with your white and red blood cells. Your bone marrow is the spongy centre inside your bones. Once platelets are made and circulated into your bloodstream, they live for 8 to 10 days.

A normal platelet count is 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood.

Your risk for bleeding develops if a platelet count falls below 10,000 to 20,000. When the platelet count is less than 50,000, bleeding is likely to be more serious if you’re cut or bruised. On the other hand, some people make too many platelets ranging from 500,000 to more than 1 million.

There are many disorders associated with abnormal platelets and platelet counts. Firstly is

Thrombocytopenia where the bone marrow doesn’t produce enough platelets or, platelets are destroyed.  Because of this, both internal and external bleeding won’t be stopped as it should. For example, clots wont form.

Next is Essential thrombocythemia. This is the opposite of thrombocythemia as in this case, the bone marrow creates too many platelets causing counts to be high, usually 500,000-1 million. This means too many blood clots with be created in places where they are not needed. For example, they may form and block blood supply to the brain or the heart.