November 1, 2024
In recent years, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy has emerged as a cornerstone of regenerative medicine, gaining widespread adoption across both aesthetic and orthopedic fields. By harnessing the body’s natural healing mechanisms, PRP offers a minimally invasive option for patients seeking relief from joint pain, soft tissue injuries, and skin aging.
As clinical interest has grown, so too has the range of PRP systems available on the market—each designed to isolate and concentrate platelets with varying levels of efficiency, purity, and customization. Choosing the right PRP system is critical, as it directly impacts treatment efficacy, patient outcomes, and practice workflow.
Choosing the right platelet-rich plasma (PRP) system is critical to patient outcomes, procedural consistency, and practice success. Whether you’re treating musculoskeletal injuries, offering aesthetic services, or expanding into regenerative medicine, not all PRP systems deliver the same results.
Below is a head-to-head comparison of two FDA-cleared PRP systems: EmCyte PurePRP® SupraPhysiologic (SP) and Apex XCELL PRP.
| Feature | EmCyte PurePRP® SP | Apex XCELL PRP |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Clearance | BK190317 | BK180252 |
| Platelet Recovery | ~90% | ~71% |
| Platelet Concentration Factor | 4-32x baseline (7–24 billion platelets) | 3–9x baseline (>7.5 billion platelets) |
| Leukocyte Control | Protocol A (leukocyte-poor) & Protocol B (leukocyte-rich) | LL-PRP and LE-PRP options, limited flexibility |
| System Type | Closed, dual-spin system | Open, single-spin with benchtop processor |
| Contamination Risk | Minimized via sterile, sealed setup | Increased due to open handling |
| Customizability | High—flexible platelet yield and leukocyte configuration | Limited |
| Ease of Integration | Streamlined workflow; minimal learning curve | Requires setup with an external processor |
| Peer-Reviewed Validation | Multiple studies show >90% recovery and consistent output | No known peer review validation |
| Best Suited For | Orthopedics, aesthetics, sports medicine, high-performance clinics | Entry-level or general use PRP clinics |
| Authorized Distributor Support | Available through PRP Labs with full training, marketing & clinical resources | Vendor-dependent |
EmCyte’s PurePRP® SP is one of the most clinically validated PRP systems available today. It is widely used in both aesthetic and orthopedic practices that demand high platelet concentration, customization, and FDA-cleared safety in a seamless, closed-system format.
Unlike systems that require external devices or compromise on purity, EmCyte delivers consistent performance from blood draw to injection—minimizing contamination risk while offering clinician-controlled output.
A 2020 study by Merrell et al. published in Current Orthopaedic Practice compared PRP systems head-to-head. EmCyte PurePRP® SP achieved over 90% platelet recovery with customizable leukocyte content and minimal RBC contamination—demonstrating a higher therapeutic payload than competing systems.
Reference:
Merrell GA, Karukonda T, Ahmed M, Jaskulka RA, Schaefer D. A head-to-head comparison of blood separation systems for platelet-rich plasma in musculoskeletal injections. Curr Orthop Pract. 2020;31(2):174–178. PubMed
The Apex XCELL PRP system offers a single-spin design with modest platelet concentration (average ~71% recovery). While marketed as user-friendly, it requires a proprietary benchtop station for processing, introducing more setup time and complexity than fully integrated closed systems like EmCyte.
Additionally, there is no known peer-reviewed clinical evidence supporting Apex’s real-world performance. Clinics using the system should weigh the tradeoff between simplicity and performance when treating patients with higher therapeutic demands.
Both systems are FDA-cleared for autologous PRP preparation at the point of care:
EmCyte PurePRP® SP: 510(k) Clearance BK190317
Apex XCELL PRP: 510(k) Clearance BK180252
FDA clearance confirms that each system meets the baseline safety and manufacturing standards. However, FDA clearance does not imply equal clinical performance—that depends on design, yield, and clinical outcomes, where EmCyte clearly leads.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative treatment that utilizes the body’s natural healing processes. By concentrating platelets from a patient’s own blood, PRP delivers a high concentration of growth factors and cytokines to targeted areas, promoting tissue repair and regeneration.
Platelets play a crucial role in healing by releasing bioactive proteins that stimulate cellular processes essential for tissue repair. Key growth factors released include:
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF): Stimulates cell replication and angiogenesis.
Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β): Regulates inflammation and promotes matrix synthesis.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF): Enhances blood vessel formation.
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF): Promotes cell growth and differentiation.
These factors collectively accelerate the healing process by attracting reparative cells, enhancing collagen production, and improving blood flow to the injured area .
PRP therapy has been applied across various medical fields due to its regenerative properties:
Musculoskeletal Injuries: Effective in treating conditions like tennis elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, and rotator cuff tears .
Osteoarthritis: Intra-articular PRP injections have shown promise in reducing pain and improving function in knee osteoarthritis patients .
Aesthetic Medicine: Used for skin rejuvenation, reducing wrinkles, and improving skin texture .
Hair Restoration: PRP injections can stimulate hair growth in individuals with androgenetic alopecia
The versatility of PRP therapy lies in its ability to harness the body’s innate healing mechanisms, making it a valuable tool in both clinical and aesthetic settings.
When choosing a PRP system, clinicians should prioritize platelet recovery, concentration, and biological purity, as these factors directly influence the treatment’s therapeutic potential.
Multiple peer-reviewed studies suggest that higher concentrations of platelets can improve treatment outcomes in orthopedic and aesthetic medicine:
“The clinical efficacy of PRP is dose-dependent, with better outcomes seen when higher platelet concentrations are delivered.”
— Dhurat R, Sukesh MS. Principles and methods of preparation of platelet-rich plasma: A review and author’s perspective. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2014. PubMed
“A higher platelet concentration in PRP correlates positively with anabolic effects on cartilage and pain relief in osteoarthritis.”
— Patel S, Dhillon MS, Aggarwal S, Marwaha N, Jain A. PRP is more effective than placebo for knee OA. Arthritis Res Ther. 2013. BioMed Central
With this evidence in mind:
Requires high platelet recovery (~90%) and concentration ( up to 32x baseline)
Treats advanced orthopedic, sports medicine, or aesthetic patients
Benefits from flexible leukocyte control (via Protocol A and B)
Prefers a closed, sterile system with simplified training and setup
Wants to align with peer-reviewed clinical data supporting therapeutic outcomes
PRP Labs is the authorized national distributor for EmCyte. We go beyond simply supplying kits—we provide:
Clinical onboarding & Zoom training
Ongoing support from real PRP specialists
Marketing assets to help you attract patients
Exclusive pricing and subscription options
🎯 Ready to bring EmCyte into your practice?
Click here to schedule a demo or request pricing
Merrell GA, Karukonda T, Ahmed M, Jaskulka RA, Schaefer D. A head-to-head comparison of blood separation systems for platelet-rich plasma in musculoskeletal injections. Curr Orthop Pract. 2020;31(2):174–178. PubMed
Prysak M, et al. A Retrospective Analysis of a Commercially Available Platelet-Rich Plasma Kit During Clinical Use. Curr Orthop Pract. 2021;32(1):50–56. PubMed
Patel S, Dhillon MS, Aggarwal S, Marwaha N, Jain A. Treatment With Platelet-Rich Plasma Is More Effective Than Placebo for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized Trial. Arthritis Research & Therapy. 2013;15(1):R122. BioMed Central
Daniel Zengel, an executive with over 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and medical device space, is dedicated to delivering industry-leading, cost-effective products to US-based medical providers. Specializing in regenerative medicine, Daniel focuses on sales, training, and marketing support to help clinics across the country successfully implement platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
Whether you are interested in offering PRP for aesthetic or musculoskeletal indications, we will provide you with everything you need to get great outcomes while increasing revenue!