Platelet concentrate produced by the GPS III system is derived from the patient’s own blood.
This technology uses a centrifuge to separate out the patients own blood components by their various densities. The red blood cells (RBCs) are denser and will move to the bottom. The plasma fraction is the least dense and will float on the top layer. The “buffy coat” which contains the majority of platelets will be sandwiched between the plasma and above the RBCs.
Platelets contain various growth factors (also called cytokines). Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-B), insulin like growth factor (IGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are several that are contained within the platelets.
Platelet concentrate is obtained by the process of spinning down the patient’s own blood and collecting the buffy coat which contains the concentrated platelets and white blood cells.
