Lower centrifugation speed and time are positively associated with platelet concentration in a canine autologous conditioned plasma system.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of variable centrifugation protocols on the cellular composition of the final product of a canine autologous conditioned plasma double-syringe system.

Animals: 30 client-owned healthy adult medium- to large-breed (17- to 45-kg) dogs.

Methods: 35 mL of anticoagulated whole blood from each subject was aliquoted into 3 samples: a baseline and 2 double syringes. The syringes were processed for platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Each double syringe was randomly assigned to 1 of 5 groups, which varied in centrifugation settings between 580 and 1,304 X g and 5 and 10 minutes. CBC analysis was performed on each of the samples to determine cellular composition. A mixed-effect linear model was fit to the data.

Results: 60 PRP samples and 30 whole blood samples were analyzed. Manufacturer settings generated a platelet fold change > 1 but did not increase concentration to the extent expected. When comparing speed alone, increased centrifugation force was associated with lower platelet fold change. When comparing time alone, increased centrifugation time was also associated with lower platelet fold change and lower leukocyte concentration.

Clinical Relevance: Autologous conditioned plasma double syringes require a low volume of initial whole blood, making them preferable for canine PRP in clinical settings. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the centrifugation protocol on the final product cellular composition in dogs and add to the available data on protocols to maximize platelet yield in PRP. Due to inherent individual variability, this study emphasized the importance of evaluating biological samples prior to administration to predict and improve patient outcomes.