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Professional article · PRP · Regenerative medicine · Updated September 2026
PRP and Platelet Lysate are both derived from platelets, but they are not the same. PRP contains predominantly intact, still activatable platelets in plasma. In Platelet Lysate, platelets are deliberately disrupted; as a result, a substantial proportion of their soluble contents is already released. This changes the composition, standardization and typical fields of use.
This article reviews the basic principles, evidence and regulatory aspects. It is not a treatment recommendation, manufacturing instruction or legal advice. For specific products and processes, the intended purpose, instructions for use and the requirements of the responsible institution or authority apply.
Direct answer
PRP vs. Platelet Lysate: the difference in 30 seconds
The key difference is the state of the platelets: In PRP, they remain part of the preparation. In Platelet Lysate, their membranes are disrupted and cell debris is subsequently removed partially or extensively, depending on the process. PL is therefore not “stronger PRP”, but a differently processed platelet-based preparation.12
PRP
Intact platelets in plasma
- Principle
- Concentration rather than disruption
- Cell status
- Platelets present and activatable
- Release
- influenced by activation and coagulation
- Typical context
- patient-near autologous use
PL / hPL
Released platelet secretome
- Principle
- Platelet lysis
- Cell status
- intact platelets largely removed
- Release
- many soluble factors already available
- Typical context
- Cell culture, tissue engineering; clinical research
Biology
What happens to the platelets?
Platelets are involved in more than haemostasis. Their granules and membranes carry numerous proteins, cytokines, chemokines, lipids and other signalling molecules. In PRP, this biological system initially remains largely intact. Platelet Lysate deliberately changes it through cell disruption.12
PRP: platelets remain in the preparation
PRP is obtained from blood by centrifugation. Depending on the system, platelet concentration, leukocyte content, residual erythrocytes and plasma volume differ. The platelets nevertheless remain predominantly intact and can respond to collagen, thrombin, calcium or other activation stimuli.
- intact platelets
- plasma and fibrinogen present
- activation influences release and coagulation
Platelet Lysate: deliberate cell disruption
In PL, platelets are lysed, for example by freeze–thaw cycles or sonication. Subsequent centrifugation and, where applicable, filtration are used to reduce cellular debris. The result is a predominantly acellular mixture of soluble platelet-derived and plasma-derived components.
- no intact platelets as a functional unit
- many mediators already released
- composition strongly process-dependent
Platelet Releasate: activation instead of lysis
In a releasate, platelets are activated so that they release granule contents. The literature does not always distinguish these terms consistently. Methodologically, however, it is useful to separate physical lysis from activation-induced secretion.5
- physiological or chemical activation
- supernatant after release
- not automatically identical to Platelet Lysate
Important terminology point
“Platelet Lysate”, “human platelet lysate”, “PRP lysate”, “platelet releasate” and “platelet-derived extract” are not used consistently across publications. For a meaningful comparison, it is therefore always necessary to check how the preparation under study was actually produced and not only what it was called.5
PRP basics
PRP: concentrating platelets without destroying them
Platelet-Rich Plasma is not a single globally standardized product. Blood volume, anticoagulant, centrifugation parameters, rotor, collection technique and inclusion of the buffy coat all influence the final preparation. Two PRP protocols can therefore be biologically different despite carrying the same label.12
In practice, the tube and centrifuge should be considered as one system. An RPM value alone is insufficient because the actual RCF depends on rotor radius. prpmed explains this in the professional article PRP centrifugation: RCF, RPM, rotor and time. For mathematical conversion, the RCF/RPM calculator is also available.
For a comparison of tube types and additives, see the basics under What are PRP tubes? and the professional comparison PRP tubes with or without separator gel?.
Platelet Lysate
PL is not “advanced PRP”
Platelet Lysate is often described as the next stage in the development of PRP. That is too simplistic. Both belong to the family of platelet-based preparations, but they follow different processing logic. In PL, the cell membrane is deliberately disrupted so that intracellular and granular components pass into the liquid phase.35
There is another point: hPL is not automatically autologous. In cell culture and the manufacture of cell-based products, human Platelet Lysate is often produced from donated platelet concentrates, sometimes pooled to reduce batch-to-batch variability. Autologous PL made from the patient’s own material also exists and has been investigated, for example, on the ocular surface and in orthopaedic settings.38
Autologous PL
Produced from material from the same person who is to be treated. Described in clinical applications, but so far much less extensively studied than PRP.
Allogeneic hPL
Often produced from donor platelet concentrates. Particularly important as a human supplement for cell culture and cell-therapy manufacturing.
Pooled hPL
Several donors are combined in one batch. This can reduce variability, but it increases requirements for donor screening, pathogen safety and release criteria.
Direct comparison
Does Platelet Lysate contain more growth factors than PRP?
Not as a general rule. Lysis releases stored molecules, so individual factors may be measured at higher soluble concentrations than in non-activated PRP. Even so, the blanket statement “PL contains more growth factors” is not supported.
A direct analysis of Platelet Lysate, calcium-activated PRP and PRF found no single winning product across six angiogenically relevant factors: VEGF, HGF, endostatin and TGF-β1 differed in different directions depending on the preparation. The authors concluded that release depends substantially on the manufacturing protocol.6
The better rule of thumb
PRP delivers intact platelets plus plasma; Platelet Lysate delivers a large proportion of the platelet-derived content already released. That does not automatically mean a higher concentration of every factor, nor a faster or better clinical effect.
| Feature | Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) | Platelet Lysate (PL / hPL) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic principle | Concentrate platelets | Disrupt platelets |
| Intact platelets | yes | largely no after successful lysis |
| Plasma | yes | depends on starting material and process |
| Leukocytes | varies by PRP type | depends on starting material; often markedly reduced after processing |
| Fibrinogen | typically present | may be present or deliberately reduced |
| Bioactive factors | partly stored; release influenced by activation | many soluble factors already released |
| Extracellular vesicles | present; activation influences release | may be present; process and filtration alter their content |
| Standardization | substantial patient- and protocol-related variability | also process-dependent; pooling and release criteria can make batches more consistent |
| Storage | usually used promptly in patient-near workflows | cryostorage is common in defined hPL processes |
| Typical focus | clinical autologous use | cell culture/tissue engineering; additionally clinical research |
| Evidence base | large for some indications, but heterogeneous | much smaller for direct clinical use |
The table describes typical features, not a universal product specification. Individual PRP and PL preparations may differ.
Evidence
Where Platelet Lysate is actually studied and used
The main mistake would be to infer clinical superiority over PRP directly from biochemical plausibility. The evidence differs considerably by field. The navigator separates established laboratory applications from clinical areas with a small evidence base.
hPL as a human cell-culture supplement
This is the best-established use of hPL. Professional societies and GMP-oriented publications describe hPL as an efficient alternative to fetal bovine serum for the ex-vivo expansion of various human cell types. Quality issues include identity, purity, potency, traceability and pathogen safety.34
What is well supported?hPL can replace FBS in many cell-culture workflows.
What does not follow from this?No automatic conclusion about the efficacy of a PL injection.
Platelet Lysate in knee osteoarthritis
Systematic reviews have so far identified only a few human studies. There are positive signals for pain and function, including direct comparisons with PRP or hyaluronic acid. The small number of studies, differing manufacturing methods and risks of bias prevent a conclusion that PL is generally superior to PRP.7
Signalclinically interesting
Limitationtoo few robust comparative studies
Autologous PL on the ocular surface
A controlled study in 30 patients with refractory Sjögren dry eye reported improvements with autologous PL eye drops, including OSDI, fluorescein score and break-up time, compared with artificial tears. The sample remains small, and the results cannot be transferred to other PL applications.8 For a broader overview of blood-based eye drops, see the prpmed professional article PRP eye drops in ophthalmology.
Direct human datayes, but limited
Transferabilityonly to the preparation and setting studied
Wound healing and tissue engineering
Small clinical studies exist for wounds; one double-blind study in diabetic foot ulcers included only 19 patients. At the same time, preclinical and biomaterial-based research is expanding rapidly. A September 2026 review describes PL in hydrogels, scaffolds and nanocarriers to make the spatial and temporal release of bioactive factors more controllable.911
Interestingcarrier systems rather than simple liquid administration
Limitationclinical translation still slow
Skin ageing and aesthetic medicine
There are preclinical studies and small clinical or retrospective datasets. A 2022 publication combined cell culture, an animal model and a retrospective evaluation of 30 treated individuals. This is a research signal, but not a basis for presenting PL as an established standard treatment for skin rejuvenation or as superior to PRP.10
What can be saidinvestigated biologically and clinically
What cannot be saidsuperiority over PRP has not been demonstrated
Manufacturing and standardization
Why two Platelet Lysate preparations are not automatically comparable
The term PL describes a product family, not a single recipe. Composition can change when starting material, lysis method, number of freeze–thaw cycles, centrifugation, filtration, fibrinogen depletion, pooling or storage conditions vary.35
Starting material
Autologous PRP, fresh or expired donor platelet concentrates and different anticoagulants do not provide the same starting profile.
Lysis method
Freeze–thaw cycles, sonication and other methods release cellular components differently.
Clarification and filtration
Centrifugation and filter pore size affect cellular debris, proteins and extracellular vesicles in the final product.
Fibrinogen and coagulation
For cell-culture applications, fibrinogen may be deliberately reduced to avoid gel formation in the medium.
Pooling and release
Pooling can reduce donor variability, but requires defined safety and release criteria. The ISBT identifies pathogen safety and product-specific release criteria as central issues.3
Why this article does not provide a PL “standard protocol”
A scheme such as “freeze three times, thaw at a specified temperature and then always filter through 0.22 µm” would be misleading as a universal manufacturing instruction. Published protocols differ, and process changes can alter the composition of the lysate.
Germany
From a regulatory perspective, processing is more than a laboratory detail
Under section 4(2) of the German Medicinal Products Act (AMG), preparations made from blood components are generally blood preparations and therefore medicinal products under German medicines law.12 The manufacture of medicinal products generally requires an authorisation. Section 13(2b) AMG nevertheless provides an exception for physicians, dentists and other persons authorised to practise medicine where the medicinal product is manufactured under their direct professional responsibility for personal use in a specific patient. Certain categories of medicinal products are excluded from this exception.13
Where manufacture does not require an authorisation under section 13, notification duties nevertheless apply under section 67 AMG. The German Transfusion Act (TFG) may also be relevant; it defines blood products and imposes requirements on collection, use and documentation. For dental products made from a small quantity of autologous blood, section 28 TFG contains a specific exemption linked to the generally recognised state of dental science and technology.1415
Particularly important for Platelet Lysate
The label “autologous” alone does not provide blanket regulatory clearance for any lysis, filtration or storage process. Anyone intending to manufacture or store PL for clinical use should clarify the specific workflow in advance with the competent state authority and, where appropriate, specialised regulatory experts.
For PRP practice
What does the difference mean in practice?
For an existing PRP practice, Platelet Lysate is not an automatic next step. A PRP tube and a validated PRP workflow are designed to produce the intended PRP product. Additional lysis, filtration or deep-freeze storage changes the preparation and may fall outside the intended purpose of the components and process.
To prepare reproducible PRP, the known variables should first be controlled: suitable tube, correct fill volume, anticoagulant, rotor, RCF, run time and sterile handling. The Vi PRP-PRO is, for example, a PRP tube with sodium citrate and separator gel; its specific use is governed by the product documentation and intended purpose.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about PRP and Platelet Lysate
Is Platelet Lysate the same as PRP?
No. PRP contains intact platelets in plasma. In Platelet Lysate, platelets have been deliberately disrupted, so many of their soluble contents are already released.
Is Platelet Lysate an advanced form of PRP?
That wording is too value-laden. Both preparations are derived from platelets, but they are processed differently and partly occupy different fields of use. PL is not automatically newer, stronger or more effective.
Is Platelet Lysate cell-free?
hPL is often described as acellular in the literature because intact platelets and cellular debris are markedly reduced after lysis and clarification. How completely this is achieved depends on the manufacturing process. “Cell-free” also does not mean that the preparation contains only purified growth factors.
Does Platelet Lysate contain more growth factors than PRP?
Not as a general rule. Individual factors may be present at higher soluble concentrations after lysis. Direct comparisons, however, show different results depending on the growth factor and manufacturing process. No general superiority can be inferred.
Does Platelet Lysate act faster than PRP?
The claim “faster” confuses biochemical availability with clinical effect. In PL, many mediators are already released; whether this leads to an earlier or better clinical effect must be demonstrated separately for each application.
What is the difference between Platelet Lysate and Platelet Releasate?
In a classic lysate, platelets are disrupted physically or mechanically. In a releasate, they are activated to release stored factors, after which the supernatant is used. The terminology in the literature is not completely uniform.
Where is human Platelet Lysate used most often?
A particularly well-established field is ex-vivo cell culture, where hPL is used as a human substitute for fetal bovine serum. Direct clinical applications are also being investigated in orthopaedics, ophthalmology, wound care and aesthetic medicine, but the evidence there is substantially smaller and more heterogeneous.
Is Platelet Lysate better than PRP?
There is no general scientific basis for that conclusion. The answer depends on the specific preparation, manufacturing process, field of use and clinical endpoint. For many applications, far more clinical data exist for PRP than for PL.
Can any PRP simply be turned into Platelet Lysate?
Technically, PRP can serve as starting material for lysis. That does not mean every PRP workflow, tube or practice is intended or legally cleared for manufacturing and clinical use of such a lysate. Intended purpose, process validation, sterility and legal requirements must be assessed separately.
Sources
Selected literature and legal sources
- Rath M. et al. Platelet-rich plasma – A comprehensive review of isolation, activation, and application. Acta Biomaterialia, 2025. PubMed
- Pinto N. et al. The role of platelet derivatives in regenerative medicine: biological foundations and translational perspectives. Front Cell Dev Biol, 2026. Frontiers
- Schallmoser K. et al. Production and Quality Requirements of Human Platelet Lysate: A Position Statement from the ISBT Working Party on Cellular Therapies. Trends Biotechnol, 2020. PubMed
- Oeller M. et al. Human Platelet Lysate for Good Manufacturing Practice-Compliant Cell Production. Int J Mol Sci, 2021. ISBT
- Bieback K. et al. Platelet lysate as a substitute for animal serum for the ex-vivo expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells: present and future. Cell Transplantation, 2016. PMC
- Custo R. et al. A comparative profile of total protein and six angiogenically-active growth factors in three platelet products. 2022. PMC
- Valtetsiotis K. et al. Platelet lysate for the treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies. Musculoskelet Surg, 2024. PubMed
- Fea A.M. et al. The Effect of Autologous Platelet Lysate Eye Drops: An In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Study. 2016. PMC
- Alhawari H.H. et al. Perilesional injections of human platelet lysate versus platelet poor plasma for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Int Wound J, 2023. PMC
- Li T. et al. Growth factors-based platelet lysate rejuvenates skin against ageing through NF-κB signalling pathway. Cell Prolif, 2022. PMC
- Huo Z. et al. Platelet Lysate-Based Biomaterials for Regenerative Tissue Engineering: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Nanomedicine, 2026. Dove Medical Press
- German Medicinal Products Act (AMG), section 4(2) – definition of blood preparations. German federal legal information portal
- German Medicinal Products Act (AMG), section 13 – manufacturing authorisation, especially subsection 2b. German federal legal information portal
- German Medicinal Products Act (AMG), section 67 – general notification requirement. German federal legal information portal
- German Transfusion Act (TFG) – especially sections 2, 13 and 28. German federal legal information portal
This professional article is intended for factual information. Studies on PRP or Platelet Lysate relate to specific manufacturing methods and populations; results should not be transferred to other systems without assessment.
Product-related links lead to prpmed.de. Scientific sources are editorially separate and are included to support the factual classification.