Figure 5
Preparation of a whole-blood sample for density-gradient centrifugation using a LeucoSep 12 ml tube. The LeucoSep tube was preloaded with Ficoll solution and a whole-blood sample diluted 1:1 with PBS was carried aboard in a separate tube. (a) Using a 3.1 ml bulb transfer pipette, the blood was overlaid onto the porous device barrier in microgravity, effectively yielding a true microgravity preparation of a density-gradient separation. (b) Resulting microgravity preparation for a density-gradient separation. (c,d) To test the extraction step with actual blood products, PBMCs were collected during microgravity using a positive-displacement pipette from CPT Vacutainer tubes prepared terrestrially prior to parabolic flight. (c) Slow and careful pipetting allows for successful aspiration of PBMCs while rapid and careless pipetting (d) makes it impossible to extract precise volumes of PBMCs. CPT, cell preparation tubes; PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cell.
