Human blood contains a lot of chemical substances, mainly platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a blood sample that contains a high concentration of platelets and pure plasma. Meanwhile, platelet poor plasma contains nearly no platelets. The human blood can produce both substances when collected and prepared correctly.
To better understand PRP and PPP, it is best to learn more about platelets vs plasma. Platelets are colorless blood cells that help blood clot. They clump and form plugs in the blood vessel injuries to stop bleeding. Meanwhile, plasma is a part of the blood that carries the blood components like water, enzymes, and salts throughout the body. Its main role is to take nutrients, proteins, and hormones to the parts of the body that need them.
The use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and platelet poor plasma (PPP) in medical treatment is increasing. Those who have musculoskeletal injuries and diseases usually turn to these non-surgical alternatives.
How PRP is Collected
To collect and prepare PRP, doctors place a newly collected sample of whole blood from a patient in several tubes loaded into a centrifuge. Then, they will divide the substance into three distinct layers after the first spin. The lowest layer contains red blood cells, the middle contains a high concentration of white blood cells, and the topmost contains a mix of platelets and white blood cells. Scientists pay much attention to the topmost layer since it has the highest concentration of platelets. They will perform a second spin after collecting the topmost layer and transferring the platelet-rich liquid to another set of test tubes. After completing the spin, they collect the bottom layer to get the plasma with the highest concentration of platelets.
How PPP is Collected
The process of collecting PPP is quite similar to the process of collecting PRP. But after the second centrifuge spin, the sample is divided into PRP and PPP samples, with the PPP being on top and the PRP being on the bottom. The reason is that this spin pulls the platelets to the bottom of the tube, leaving the PPP on top.
Those who want to know if platelet therapies are a great choice based on their specific situation must contact a reputable provider. PRP and PPP are readily-accessible, non-surgical options for patients who seek treatment for their specific injuries and want complete healing.
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