Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (aPRP) Survey

Autologous platelet rich plasma (aPRP) is widely used by orthopedic surgeons for chronic ‘wear and tear’ injuries, and by general surgeons for hastening wound and incision closures. Autologous PRP is often manufactured at the bedside in outpatient clinics, and in the operating theater. In the United States the FDA has approved the devices used to isolate aPRP, but has left the application of aPRP to the non-regulated area of ‘scope of medical practice.’ As a result the quality of the aPRP and its applications are not regulated. Studies have found that many of the aPRP isolation kits give highly irregular yields, with little enrichment of the platelet-rich-plasma fraction. Quality control efforts by orthopedic surgeons and other users are not known. The current range of aPRP usage is not easily assessed. We have developed a survey to discover whether aPRP is used in BEST member hospitals, and whether the Blood Bank is involved in quality control measures.

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