Patent ID: 7413665

Claim:
Method for separating a volume of composite fluid contained in a separation container into at least a first, a second, and an intermediate fluid component, the intermediate fluid component having a density comprised between the density of the first fluid component and the density of the second fluid component, the separation container being fluidly connected at least to a first component container and an intermediate component container, the method comprising the steps of: spinning the separation container at a first rotation speed so as to separate therein the first fluid component, the intermediate fluid component, and the second fluid component; blocking fluid communication between the separation container and the intermediate component container; allowing fluid communication between the separation container and the first component container; squeezing the separation container to transfer at least a fraction of the first fluid component into the first component container; detecting a characteristic of a fluid component at a first location between the separation vessel and the first component container; blocking fluid communication between the separation container and the first component container; allowing fluid communication between the separation container and the intermediate component container; squeezing the separation container to transfer the intermediate fluid component into the intermediate component container; and detecting a characteristic of a blood component at a second location between the separation container and the intermediate component container.