Buffy Coat Method

1. Buffy Coat Method Step 1: Whole Blood is collected into a top and bottom pack and is centrifuged (hard spin) to produce platelet poor plasma, red blood cells and a buffy coat Platelet Poor Plasma Buffy Coat Layer Red Cell Concentrate Red Cell Additive Images courtesy of Canadian Blood Services – Hospital Education Presentation 2004

2. Step 2Extraction Buffy Coat Method cont. Plasma Buffy Coat Red blood cell

3. Buffy Coat Method cont. Step 3: Pooled Buffy Coats are first pooled, then sterile docked to the platelet storage bags, followed by centrifugation at low speed

4. Pooling (Train Method) Buffy Coat Method cont. Plasma Buffy Coats sterile docked together Platelet storage bag sterile docked to the Buff Coat “train”

5. Buffy Coat Method cont • Buffy Coat Pool is loaded into buffy coat bag • Supernatant (PRP) pressed through LR filter into storage bag

6. Pooled Platelet Concentrate, LR is Similar in physical size & dosage to an apheresis platelet concentrate Buffy Coat Method cont.