*Texas Orthobiologics Bench Test Of The ACP Max Platelet Rich Plasma System*
We have tested many #PRP kits and protocols over the years to see see how they perform in a real world situation. We can standardize the blood draw and compare the PRP output from any kit...and we have now tested about 8 of the more common ones available in the USA. Last week we were able to test The Arthrex ACP Max PRP system. We had some key orthobiologic gurus from Arthrex present to walk us thru the system and interpret the results. Here is what we found:
Although the ACP Max can hold up to 90cc of blood, I only put in 60cc because that is the most common volume that we have tested across many companies. The first spin is longer, 9 minutes, and the second spin is shorter....5 min. At the end of the two spin we ended up with 4cc of PRP from the initial 60cc blood volume.
The initial platelet count was 286 (60cc); PRP platelet count was 2106 (4cc). Concentration was 7.36x. Platelet dose was 8.2 Billion platelets. Platelet recovery was 49%. Initial WBC was 3.8; PRP WBC was 0.2. Initial RBC was 3.51; PRP RBC was 0.06. LYM went up, MON went down, GRA went down (see the sheets)
One additional metric I like is the cost per Billion platelets. To calculate that here we would need to know the doctor's cost of the ACP Max divided by 8.2 Billion Platelets. The kit for testing for this experiment was donated so I don't have that cost.
Here are some hypothetical cost/Billion platelets based on this one test and a hypothetical kit price.
$200 kit= $24.39/Billion platelets
$300 kit =$36.59/Billion platelets
$400 kit =$48.78/Billion platelets
While this test is exactly what a patient would have received on this particular day....please keep in mind that results vary and this was a N=1.....just to see the real world outcome!
Common questions
- How many platelets does the Arthrex ACP Max actually produce?
- 8.2 billion platelets in this test. Starting from a 60cc blood draw, the ACP Max produced 4cc of PRP with a platelet count of 2106 against a starting count of 286, a concentration of 7.36x and a platelet recovery of 49%. This was a single real-world run, N=1, so results vary from patient to patient and day to day.
- What does the ACP Max work out to per billion platelets?
- At 8.2 billion platelets per run, a $200 kit works out to $24.39 per billion platelets, a $300 kit to $36.59 and a $400 kit to $48.78. The kit for this test was donated, so the true physician cost was not known and those figures use hypothetical kit prices. Cost per billion platelets is the number worth comparing across PRP systems.
- Does the ACP Max remove white and red blood cells?
- Almost entirely. White blood cells fell from 3.8 to 0.2 and red blood cells from 3.51 to 0.06 between the whole blood sample and the finished PRP. Lymphocytes rose while monocytes and granulocytes fell. The two-spin protocol runs 9 minutes on the first spin and 5 on the second, and the device holds up to 90cc of blood although 60cc was used here.
Texas Orthobiologics measures its own PRP and bone marrow concentrate in the office with a hematology analyzer, so the dose given is a known number rather than an assumption. Very few practices measure anything at all.
