Preparation of Washed Platelet Suspensions From Human and Rodent Blood

Citrate is the preferred anticoagulant for blood collection, as EDTA damages platelets and heparin modifies their function (1 ). Citrate allows the rapid generation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), with a high yield of platelets; however, this method has certain disadvantages. In particular, the PRP preparation has a limited stability (no longer than 2 h) and contains plasma proteins, including enzymes. In addition, human platelet-rich plasma (PRP) prepared from blood collected into trisodium citrate (3.8% w/v) has a depressed ionic calcium concentration, which can cause platelet aggregation and release of substances during centrifugation (2 ). To overcome these different problems, a centrifugation technique has been developed for the isolation and washing of platelets from human or rodent blood anticoagulated with acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD). The cells are resuspended in a physiological buffer under well-defined conditions, notably the presence of plasmatic ionic calcium concentrations (2 mM ) and the absence of coagulation factors or other plasma components.