A comparative study of 2 methods for obtaining platelet-rich plasma.
OBJECTIVE
Double and single centrifugation are the most commonly used techniques for obtaining platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in dentistry. In this study, we used and compared 2 methods for obtaining PRP: double centrifugation (ACE system; Surgical Supply and Surgical Science Systems, Brockton, MA) and single centrifugation (Nahita system; Nahita, Navarra, Spain).


METHODS
Blood samples were obtained from 30 random patients. Each blood sample was treated using the ACE system and Nahita system methods, after which the obtained material was analyzed by flow cytometry for platelet counts and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for ultrastructural analysis of the PRP gel.


RESULTS
Platelet count analysis of the PRP obtained from both methods revealed that the ACE and Nahita systems accomplished platelet concentrations of (336%) and (227%), respectively. The platelet counting results obtained from the ACE system samples were more dispersed than their Nahita system counterpart. The ultrastructural (ie, TEM) study showed considerable alterations of the platelet aggregates in the ACE's PRP, especially when the samples were not mixed in the final stage of the procedure, whereas the Nahita aggregates always had a normal physiological appearance.


CONCLUSIONS
The ACE double-centrifugation method is able to achieve higher platelet concentrations than the single-centrifugation Nahita system, although the results obtained by ACE were more dispersed. Nevertheless, the ACE system provoked alterations in the PRP ultrastructure, and it was more sensitive to small errors during preparation.
Tamimi
Faleh M
FM
Department of Stomatology III, Faculty of Odontology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Montalvo
Santiago
S
Tresguerres
Isabel
I
Blanco Jerez
Luis
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D010976:Platelet Count; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma