FIELD: medicine.SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to medical equipment. Method of reducing collected volume during blood component collection comprising priming and aligning the blood processing equipment with an anticoagulant solution, including synchronously pumping anticoagulant until anticoagulant is detected by an air/fluid sensor in a withdraw/return line. Then confirming pump operation and tubing geometry by comparing the number of pump revolutions, required to progress the anticoagulant solution between air/fluid sensors to pre-established expectations derived from understanding of pump displacement and tubing length. Confirming proper function of the pumps and cap on the venous access device by holding one pump fixed, and moving the other, while comparing the observed pressure change at a pressure sensor, to the expected change given the volume of fluid vs air expected in the lines. Annunciating any discrepancies to operator such that they can take appropriate action. Synchronously reverse pumping the anticoagulant until the air/anticoagulant interface boundary is present in the priming anticoagulant alignment point. Proceeding with the collection and separation of blood components, comprising connecting a venous-access device to a donor. At that, the venous-access device fluidly connected via the draw/return tubing to a blood separation device. Withdrawing whole blood from the donor such that the drawn whole blood is collected in the blood component separation device for processing. Separating the withdrawn whole blood into a first blood component and a second blood component using the blood component separation device. Extracting blood components from the blood component separation device. Returning other components such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets to the donor through a draw/return line. Second version of the method differing by the operations of equipment control is disclosed.EFFECT: inventions provide increased volume of collected blood
