Abstract: A system compact enough to be located entirely beside the donor's chair, and able to process the blood while the donor is still resting in the chair after having donated the blood. The separated blood components (plasma and red blood cells) may be stored in their individual optimum environments immediately after the whole blood is drawn, and the blood does not need to be transported back to a separation laboratory for processing. The system includes a needle (72) (or other cannula-like device) for insertion into a vein of the donor and drawing whole blood therethrough, a rotor (2a) for holding the blood after it is drawn, and a motor (50) for spinning the rotor so as to cause the blood to separate into components, for example, plasma and red blood cells. The system also provides for a container for collecting a separated component.