Method for controlling a blood component separation device including temporarily storing a component in a container

A method of controlling a blood component separation device comprising:

• a centrifugal separator for separating a predetermined blood component from blood;
• and
• a container for containing the predetermined blood component that is centrifugally separated, wherein the method comprises:
• (a) a centrifugal separation step of introducing whole blood drawn from a blood donor into the centrifugal separator with a first blood pump to separate the whole blood into a plurality of blood components,
• (b) a circulation flow step of introducing a predetermined first blood component, among centrifugally separated blood components, into a first container together with whole blood, and
• (c) a circulation/acceleration step of stopping supply of whole blood to the centrifugal separator after separating a predetermined amount of the first blood component in the circulation flow step, introducing only the first blood component stored in the first container to the centrifugal separator with a second blood pump to circulate the first blood component for a predetermined period of time, and increasing a circulation speed in the centrifugal separator to separate and collect a second blood component,
• wherein whole blood drawn from the blood donor is temporarily stored in a temporary storage container during at least a period of time in the circulation/acceleration step, and
• a first tube coupled to the temporary storage container is further coupled to an outlet port of the centrifugal separator and a second tube also coupled to the temporary storage container is further coupled between the first container and the second blood pump.