This invention is directed to a method of collecting and separating whole blood into components. The method includes the steps of adding an anticoagulant having an acidic pH to a bag for collecting and/or separating whole blood, collecting whole blood in the bag, loading the bag containing anticoagulated whole blood on a rotor, spinning the bag on the rotor to separate the whole blood into at least one component; and squeezing the bag on the rotor to push the component from the separation bag into at least one satellite bag.