Controversies related to scientific report describing g-forces from studies on platelet-rich fibrin: Necessity for standardization of relative centrifugal force values

Abstract

Leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), a second-generation platelet concentrate has been the focus of intensive research endeavors over the last 2 decades. Over the years, numerous reports have however failed to accurately report g-force values which have caused considerable confusion in the field. These values have since been re-transcribed incorrectly in many studies moving forward, and this article aims to address this topic to avoid further confusion in the field. We address several reports in which PRF centrifugal g-forces have been calculated at the PRF clot (referred to as relative centrifugal force [RCF]-clot) as opposed to the international standard method described at the bottom of centrifugation tubes (RCF-max). We further highlight how RCF-clot is not only a deviation from the standard international method used to report g-force values, but one subject to significant error owing to centrifugation time, patient hematocrit levels, initial volume of blood collected, and other factors. For these reasons and those further reported throughout this article, we address this controversy in detail to avoid further confusion regarding the report of g-force values in future studies. Furthermore, we propose a standardization regarding the accurate report of g-force values in future studies investigating PRF at the RCF-max.