A system and method for networking blood collection instruments within a blood collection facility

32. The system for networking of claim 31, wherein the system computer receives blood component collection process information from any of the plurality of blood component collection instruments and stores the information in the memory.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the second communication protocol is Ethernet.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the second communication protocol is TCP/IP.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the first communication protocol is a customized protocol.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the protocol convertor is a programmable communication controller.

37. The system of claim 31, further comprising an interface operably connected to the system computer, the interface for transmitting information to the system computer and receiving information from the system computer.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the interface is a wireless interface.

39. The system of claim 37 wherein the wireless operator interface comprises a reader for entering an identifier associated with the blood component collection facility.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the reader comprises at least one of a touch pad, a keypad, an optical scanner, and a magnetic scanner for receiving at least one of an operator identifier, a blood component collection instrument identifier, a blood component donor identifier, and a blood component collection kit identifier.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the system computer stores the at least one of the operator identifier, the blood component collection instrument identifier, the blood component donor identifier, and the blood component collection kit identifier, for monitoring and controlling the blood collection facility.

42. The system of claim 37, wherein the system computer is a server and wherein the interface comprises a web browser.

43. In a blood component collection facility comprising a plurality of independently operable blood component collection instruments, a system computer, a communication conduit for operably connecting each of the plurality of blood component collection instruments to the system computer, a first communication protocol for facilitating communication on the communication conduit between the system computer and each of the blood component collection instruments, a retrofitted blood component collection instrument comprising:

• an existing blood component collection instrument having a second communication protocol;
• and
• a protocol converter for converting the second communication protocol to the first communication protocol for communicating between the existing blood component collection instrument and the system computer.

44. The retrofitted instrument of claim 43, wherein an interface is operably connected to the system computer, the interface for transmitting information to the system computer and receiving information from the system computer, and wherein the interface comprises at least one of a touch pad, a keypad, an optical scanner, and a magnetic scanner for receiving at least one of an operator identifier, a blood component collection instrument identifier, a blood component donor identifier, and a blood component collection kit identifier.

45. In a blood component collection facility comprising a plurality of independently operable blood component collection instruments, a system computer, a communication conduit for operably connecting each of the plurality of blood component collection instruments to the system computer, a first communication protocol for facilitating communication on the communication conduit between the system computer and each of the blood component collection instruments, a method for retrofitting an existing blood component collection instrument comprising:

• modifying an existing blood component collection instrument having a second communication protocol to comprise a protocol converter for converting the second communication protocol to the first communication protocol for communicating between the existing blood component collection instrument and the system computer.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of providing an interface for operable connection to the system computer, the interface for transmitting information to the system computer and receiving information from the system computer, and wherein the interface comprises at least one of a touch pad, a keypad, an optical scanner, and a magnetic scanner for receiving at least one of an operator identifier, a blood component collection instrument identifier, a blood component donor identifier, and a blood component collection kit identifier.