Are you confused about platelet-rich plasma, aka PRP? If so, you are not alone!
Over the years, since Drs Arun K Garg and Robert E Marx first placed patients’ own blood in a centrifuge to bring plasma to the top, fibrin to the middle and erythrocytes to the bottom, commercial forces and a lack of industry standardisation has led to myriad nomenclatures, including, but not limited to PRF, i-PRF, A-PRF… the list goes on.
But the truth is, they are all the same product.
Looking to set the record straight on this are pioneers Drs Garg and Marx.
Speaking about the evolution of PRP, Dr Garg said: ‘I could play the same game and introduce fifth generation PRP but that would be disingenuous.
‘The truth is, PRP is PRP whatever way you look at it, and PRF, i-PRF and so on are all PRP too!
‘The only difference between the 1990s when Robert and I created this by-product of patients’ own blood and now is that we have kept up with changing technology.
‘All autologous blood concentrates are the same, irrespective of what another user may call it.’
You can read more about how PRP misconceptions have developed over the years, learn the truth behind the abbreviations, and buy Dr Garg’s book on the topic at www.quintpub.net/news/2018/08/autologous-blood-concentrates-making-sense-of-all-the-hype.
