PRP - the truth behind the various kits, marketing promises and questionable pricing?

Question

Can a doctor please explain to me why one kit can go for $150-400? Ie using harvest or Regen for example ? I’m not talking about paying the doctor for their time and expertise. Let’s exclude that for a second. What is so special about these damn tubes? They are all similar, have something like ACD inside and they spin in a centrifuge. I just don’t understand. It has become the latisse of the bimatoprost world. Sounds like one big marketing sham.. A straight answer would be appreciated.

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

The simplest PRP kits are single spin kits. These tend to be the least expensive. The computerized versions that produce six to eight times concentration are more expensive because of the machinery and the kit. There are two factors that are important when choosing a PRP kit.  One is the final concentration number , and two whether they are are red blood cells and white blood cells in the final PRP. The minimum concentration should be 3.8 up to 8x plasma. No one has a definitive answer, with studies, to support the actual best concentration. There are studies to show that red blood cells and white blood cells are not helpful. Not all PRP kits used by doctors are FDA approved. Some offices actually use  tubes that are made for Diagnostic laboratory services. You need to ask your  PRP expert if he is using tubes that are FDA-approved for human reinjection. In summary, the least expensive tubes are diagnostic tube and are harmful to use for injection into the scalp. The most expensive setup uses a computerized mechanism and produces PRP at six to eight times plasma, however it is high in red blood cells and white blood cells. I like Eclipse tubes as they are the least expensive that satisfy  my criteria.
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Amir Yazdan, MD · Answer

Like any ground-breaking medical treatment, prices vary and are largely set by pharmaceutical and manufacturer companies. Doctors have no control over the price of such devices. As PRP becomes more popular and widely used, the prices may be driven down a bit. But until then, we pay the standard prices. One important thing to note when it comes to PRP is that more often than not, you get what you pay for. And that has largely to do with the price of the equipment. The more expensive equipment usually yields the best result. An experienced hair restoration surgeon will not use inferior equipment in his PRP procedures, because the results will be sub-par. Make sure that you thoroughly do your research and ask the physician questions regarding the treatment and products used. We have seen some great results with hair growth and PRP treatment, so look at it as an investment in yourself.

Arbella Sarkis, MD · Answer

Hello gringo1,
Fortunately the market is getting more competitive, however the best kits have not come down too much. I'm like you, I'm amazed at the costs of some products as well. 
Most have some form of patent protection. They all have development costs, FDA clearance costs that required expensive animal and human studies, product liability costs, general overhead and then they have heavy product marketing costs. A number are in litigation defending their patents. 
There are a number of cheaper kits out there now, but they produce an inferior product. The kits with patents tend to be the best kits. The best physicians will only use the best kits. We can't afford inferior outcomes. Only our best effort, materials and devices will do for our patients. 
Until their patents expire or those that have them lower their price, we're stuck if we want the best.
I can assure you, doctors don't like it any more than you do. We have to go out of pocket for them, stock them and frequently lose one for one reason or another such as an employee error.
I'm having the same problem with extracellular matrix products. Great stuff, but big price:( 
Believe me, there's not a doctor out their that's not beating the salesperson up at each purchase. We simply have no control. No more control than we can control the price of medications.
I hope I've helped.
Warmly,
Arbella Sarkis, MD

Richard E. Moore, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. As with any device or medication that requires FDA approval there are tremendous upfront costs to complete the studies and submit the data to the FDA to obtain clearance. The collection kits we use vary in price from $75 to $225. The more expensive kits are able to obtain a higher concentration of platelets than the less expensive kits. For most procedures we prefer to use the kits that concentrate platelets 6-8 times baseline concentration in whole blood. Many of our competitors use the kits that obtain a concentration of less than 2 times whole blood.I hope this was informative - Dr. Moore.

Anteneh Roba, MD · Answer

There are a few companies in the USA that have FDA approved devices that concentrate Platelet Rich Plasma at the recommended concentration of 4 to 6-7 times baseline concentrations. The devises as well as the kits are more expensive because the quality of the devices and the kits have to be good enough to be FDA approved. In most cases the devices are specifically made to concentrate PRP such as Tru-PRP by arteriocyte. Other less expensive devices are centrifuges modified to concentrate PRP, but they do not achieve the required concentration needed to make the treatments effective. That is why the prices range so much.

PRP - the truth behind the various kits, marketing promises and questionable pricing?

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