A Simple Double Centrifugation Tube Method to Obtain Platelet-rich Plasma from Equine Blood

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely utilized as a routine treatment for chronic musculoskeletal conditions in horses, such as osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, and desmopathies. This effectiveness stems from the high concentration of growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines that are released upon activation of this orthobiologic agent, whether activated endogenously or exogenously. Despite its growing popularity, there is a notable absence of instructional videos that demonstrate the techniques for obtaining PRP in horses. This study examines a double centrifugation tube method for obtaining PRP in horses. Whole blood from six horses was collected in sodium citrate tubes and centrifuged twice at 120 × g for 5 min and 240 × g for 5 min. The mean platelet concentration for PRP was 360.95 ± 56.31 platelets (PLT) × 10³/µL, while the mean leukocyte concentration was 3.05 ± 1.53 cells × 10³/µL. The platelet count in PRP was 2.41x higher than in whole blood, while the leukocyte concentration in PRP was 0.44x lower. The collection efficiency for PLT in PRP was 17%, while the collection efficiency for leukocytes in PRP was 3.1 %. The mean concentrations of transforming growth factor beta 1 and platelet-derived growth factor BB in PRP were 2601.82 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2358.88-2844.76) pg/mL and 1208.05 (95% CI: 1051.09-1365.02) pg/mL, respectively. These results indicate that PRP can be efficiently and reproducibly obtained through a simple, cost-effective method suitable for use by equine practitioners.