A method and apparatus for red blood collection and filtration is provided wherein a red blood cell collection assembly provides for leukoreduction filtration concurrent with or soon after the red blood cell separation and collection procedure. Such procedures involve filtering the separated red blood cells in a diluted state after and/or prior to flushing the filter with storage solution. Storage solution may thus be passed through the leukoreduction filter before, with and/or after the RBCs have been filtered therethrough. The red blood cell collection, filtration and storage assembly is preferably preconnected to a blood component separation disposable assembly (8), including, for example, a centrifuge vessel (352) and a blood removal/return assembly for removing blood from a donor, passing the blood to the centrifuge vessel for separation of the blood into components for collection and providing for filtration of the separated red blood cell component.
