---
title: Erythrocyte
url: https://regenmedtools.com/glossary/erythrocyte/
type: glossary
primaryQuery: erythrocyte red blood cell
---

# Erythrocyte

An erythrocyte is a red blood cell. Erythrocytes are the densest major component of blood and settle to the bottom of the tube first under centrifugation. In PRP preparation they are what you are trying not to draw.

Red cell contamination in a PRP draw is the most common technique fault, and it is more likely with a fixed-angle rotor because the layers separate on a slant.


## Related
- [buffy-coat](https://regenmedtools.com/glossary/buffy-coat/)
- [plasma](https://regenmedtools.com/glossary/plasma/)
- [fixed-angle-rotor](https://regenmedtools.com/glossary/fixed-angle-rotor/)