Patent ID: 8349254

Claim:
An apparatus for collecting a blood component, wherein said apparatus separates a blood collected from a blood donor to collect the predetermined blood component, comprising: a circuit for collecting a blood component comprising: a blood collection needle for collecting blood from a blood donor; a blood separator for separating said blood collected by said blood collection needle: a blood component collection bag for collecting a predetermined blood component separated by said blood separator: a blood line connecting said blood collection needle and the inlet of said blood separator; an initial flow removing line branched from a first branching portion formed in said blood line for removing initial flow of said blood collected from the blood donor; and an anticoagulant-injection line branched from a second branching portion formed in said initial flow removing line for injecting an anticoagulant, wherein an internal volume of a portion, between said first branching portion and said second branching portion of said initial flow removing line is 0.05 to 1 mL; and a supply means for adding said anticoagulant to said blood collected by said blood collection needle, wherein said supply means comprises a priming mechanism including a pump for feeding anticoagulant through the anticoagulant-injection line, and a sensor which detects the presence of anticoagulant in the anticoagulant-injection line at a location spaced from the second branching portion and, in response to such detection, shuts off the pump to prevent the anticoagulant from reaching the second branching portion; wherein a subsequently performed collection of the initial flow of blood occurs with the initial flow of blood being separated from the anticoagulant by air in the anticoagulant-injection line, so the initial flow of blood can be collected in a state free of anticoagulant.