An automated whole blood collection system comprising: a reusable hardware component including an inlet pump and an outlet pump; and a disposable fluid circuit component configured to be mounted to the reusable hardware component and including: a donor access device configured to provide a first quantity of whole blood from a donor when the inlet pump is actuated; a spinning membrane separator configured to receive the first quantity of whole blood and separate the first quantity of whole blood into a first quantity of red blood cells and a first quantity of plasma; one or more red blood cell collection containers configured to receive the first quantity of red blood cells when the outlet pump is actuated; and a plasma collection container configured to receive the first quantity of plasma; tubing configured for connecting components of the disposable fluid circuit component; the reusable hardware further comprising: clamps (244, 246, 248, 250) for selectively occluding and opening tubing segments of the tubing when the disposable fluid circuit is mounted to the reusable hardware component, and a durable reusable controller that interfaces with the circuit and is configured to control fluid flow therethrough; wherein the inlet pump is configured to be actuated to pull at least a portion of the first quantity of plasma out of the plasma collection container, flow said at least a portion of the first quantity of plasma back across the membrane separator and back to the donor; wherein the inlet pump is further configured to be actuated to provide a second quantity of whole blood from a donor to the spinning membrane separator via the donor access device after said at least a portion of the first quantity of plasma is returned to the donor; wherein the spinning membrane separator is configured to separate the second quantity of whole blood into a second quantity of red blood cells and a second quantity of plasma; wherein the one or more red blood cell collection containers are configured to receive the second quantity of red blood cells when the outlet pump is actuated, and wherein the plasma collection container is configured to receive the second quantity of plasma; and wherein the inlet pump is further configured to be actuated to pull at least a portion of the second quantity of plasma out of the plasma collection container, flow said at least a portion of the second quantity of plasma back across the membrane separator and back to the donor. a reusable hardware component including an inlet pump and an outlet pump; and a disposable fluid circuit component configured to be mounted to the reusable hardware component and including: a donor access device configured to provide a first quantity of whole blood from a donor when the inlet pump is actuated; a spinning membrane separator configured to receive the first quantity of whole blood and separate the first quantity of whole blood into a first quantity of red blood cells and a first quantity of plasma; one or more red blood cell collection containers configured to receive the first quantity of red blood cells when the outlet pump is actuated; and a plasma collection container configured to receive the first quantity of plasma; a donor access device configured to provide a first quantity of whole blood from a donor when the inlet pump is actuated; a spinning membrane separator configured to receive the first quantity of whole blood and separate the first quantity of whole blood into a first quantity of red blood cells and a first quantity of plasma; one or more red blood cell collection containers configured to receive the first quantity of red blood cells when the outlet pump is actuated; and a plasma collection container configured to receive the first quantity of plasma; tubing configured for connecting components of the disposable fluid circuit component; the reusable hardware further comprising: clamps (244, 246, 248, 250) for selectively occluding and opening tubing segments of the tubing when the disposable fluid circuit is mounted to the reusable hardware component, and a durable reusable controller that interfaces with the circuit and is configured to control fluid flow therethrough; wherein the inlet pump is configured to be actuated to pull at least a portion of the first quantity of plasma out of the plasma collection container, flow said at least a portion of the first quantity of plasma back across the membrane separator and back to the donor; wherein the inlet pump is further configured to be actuated to provide a second quantity of whole blood from a donor to the spinning membrane separator via the donor access device after said at least a portion of the first quantity of plasma is returned to the donor; wherein the spinning membrane separator is configured to separate the second quantity of whole blood into a second quantity of red blood cells and a second quantity of plasma; wherein the one or more red blood cell collection containers are configured to receive the second quantity of red blood cells when the outlet pump is actuated, and wherein the plasma collection container is configured to receive the second quantity of plasma; and wherein the inlet pump is further configured to be actuated to pull at least a portion of the second quantity of plasma out of the plasma collection container, flow said at least a portion of the second quantity of plasma back across the membrane separator and back to the donor.