# How is PRP made from my blood? *How PRP Is Prepared — Orthobiologics Gilbert* > A platelet rich plasma injection begins with a blood draw. See how PRP is prepared, why white blood cells matter and what to ask. This page explains how a clinic turns drawn blood into PRP and why the mix matters. ## What does the clinic take from my blood? PRP means platelet-rich plasma made from the patient's own blood. A clinician draws blood from a vein in your arm. A small machine spins the tube into layers, and staff keep the part rich in platelets. Some PRP keeps many white blood cells, while some keeps few. More white cells can mean extra soreness or swelling for several days. Studies haven't shown better results from those cells, while red cells merely show what the spin left behind. ## What happens during the visit? A clinician examines the sore joint before drawing any blood. The clinic then prepares and uses the PRP in the same building, usually in under an hour. The check comes first because PRP doesn't suit every joint. The clinician places PRP where the exam found the trouble. Ultrasound may guide the needle to the intended area. If the joint grows sore or swollen for several days, follow the clinic's aftercare directions at home. ## What can I ask before deciding? Ask which machine and kit, sometimes called the PRP system, the clinic uses to prepare the blood. Ask whether it keeps many white blood cells and what that means afterward. Also ask whether the clinic proposes one treatment or several spaced visits. QC Kinetix offers regenerative treatments, its term for care meant to support the body's repair work. PRP is one option, prepared there after staff draw the patient's blood. A consultation lets the clinician compare that option with your exam. No clinic can promise how the joint will respond. ## Sources 1. Blood from seven donors was processed through five commercial PRP systems (Arthrex Angel, Emcyte Genesis CS, Arteriocyte Magellan, Harvest SmartPrep, Biomet GPS III). White-cell concentration ranged from 11.0 to 27.3 thousand/uL between systems, neutrophil concentration from 0.6 to 9.4 thousand/uL, red-cell concentration from under 1.1 to 3.2 million/uL, and pH from 6.95 to over 7.26. The authors advise caution in interpreting clinical PRP results because the product itself differs by device. Degen RM, et al. — [Commercial Separation Systems Designed for Preparation of Platelet-Rich Plasma Yield Differences in Cellular Composition.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28167878/). *HSS Journal*, 2017. DOI: 10.1007/s11420-016-9519-3. 2. A single-donor comparison of five PRP preparations (RegenPRP, Mini GPS III, Selphyl, Arthrex ACP and a laboratory protocol) across ten donors found two systems produced leukocyte-RICH PRP with higher red-cell, white-cell and neutrophil proportions while three produced leukocyte-poor PRP, and that platelet and growth-factor doses varied substantially between devices, with platelet dose positively correlated with every growth factor measured. Magalon J, et al. — [Characterization and comparison of 5 platelet-rich plasma preparations in a single-donor model.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24725317/). *Arthroscopy*, 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2014.02.020. 3. A double-blind randomized trial allocated 192 patients with KL 1-3 knee OA to three weekly injections of leukocyte-RICH or leukocyte-POOR PRP (mean leukocyte concentration 7,991 x10^6/L vs 0.1 x10^6/L). No difference was found in any clinical score at 2, 6 or 12 months (IKDC improved 45.6 to 60.7 vs 46.8 to 62.9; P=.626). Mild adverse events were numerically more frequent with leukocyte-rich PRP (12.2% vs 4.7%) but not significantly so. Di Martino A, et al. — [Leukocyte-Rich versus Leukocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind Randomized Trial.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35103547/). *American Journal of Sports Medicine*, 2022. DOI: 10.1177/03635465211064303. 4. A systematic review of 32 studies comparing leukocyte-poor and leukocyte-rich PRP in knee OA found both formulations improved pain and function above the MCID with no significant difference between them at 3, 6 or 12 months - but leukocyte-RICH PRP carried significantly higher odds of post-injection pain (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.29-2.10) and swelling (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.22-1.99). Kim JH, et al. — [Adverse Reactions and Clinical Outcomes for Leukocyte-Poor Versus Leukocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34277879/). *Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine*, 2021. DOI: 10.1177/23259671211011948. 5. A 2026 network meta-analysis of 21 RCTs (2,254 patients) found both leukocyte-rich and leukocyte-poor PRP significantly superior to placebo and to hyaluronic acid for function at 6-12 months (MD vs placebo -13.20 and -10.54 respectively). LP-PRP ranked highest (P-score 0.96) but the DIRECT comparison between the two formulations showed no statistically significant difference, and the authors concluded there is insufficient evidence to recommend one PRP formulation over the other. Xu B, et al. — [Leukocyte-rich versus leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41629990/). *Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research*, 2026. DOI: 10.1186/s13018-026-06689-4. 6. A 2026 systematic review of leukocyte-rich versus leukocyte-poor PRP for osteoarthritis concluded the current evidence is insufficient to determine whether adding leukocytes provides any clinical benefit, that results generally show no significant difference between the two, and that there is no conclusive evidence local reactions are caused by leukocytes specifically. Martin-Vega M, et al. — [Leukocyte-rich versus leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma for Osteoarthritis: A systematic review.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41782804/). *Regenerative Therapy*, 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2026.101078. 7. A meta-analysis with meta-regression of 10 Level I-II studies (696 patients) of PRP augmentation during rotator cuff repair classified trials by whether the platelet concentration factor exceeded a 4-fold increase over whole blood. Neither patient-reported outcomes nor retear rates differed between high-dose and low-dose PRP - a direct test of the 'more platelets is better' premise, which it did not support in this setting. Lim JJ, et al. — [Platelet Concentration Does Not Influence Clinical Efficacy and Retear Rates of Rotator Cuff Repair With Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis With Meta-Regression.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41947497/). *American Journal of Sports Medicine*, 2026. DOI: 10.1177/03635465261434001. 8. A meta-analysis of 18 Level I trials (811 PRP vs 797 HA patients, mean follow-up 11.1 months) found mean WOMAC total improvement of 44.7% with PRP versus 12.6% with HA (P<.01). Six of 11 VAS-based studies and 3 of 6 IKDC-based studies favoured PRP significantly. In the subanalysis, leukocyte-POOR PRP was associated with significantly better subjective IKDC scores than leukocyte-rich PRP. Belk JW, et al. — [Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32302218/). *American Journal of Sports Medicine*, 2021. DOI: 10.1177/0363546520909397. ## What happens when you make an appointment? A consultation begins with an exam of the sore joint. The clinician asks how long it has hurt and which daily tasks are now difficult. An earlier X-ray may help narrow the choices. Reading alone can't do that. QC Kinetix can discuss non-surgical care after the review. PRP may come up, but it doesn't fit every joint. The visit should cover likely soreness, time and cost. No honest appointment comes with a certain result. One number reaches all four Valley locations: (602) 837-PAIN. Book a free consultation: --- Clear answers for a sore joint. Why joints get sore, what may help at home and what QC Kinetix offers near Gilbert. A Gilbert guide to joint soreness, PRP and useful questions for a clinic visit. This site is operated by the owners of the QC Kinetix clinics serving the Phoenix area — Chandler, Scottsdale, Peoria and Banner Estrella — so read it as first-party writing from a business that benefits when you book, and check the named sources for yourself. © 2026 Centrifuge Notes. General education about a preparation and the literature on it, not medical advice about your joint — talk to a clinician about your own case.