The method separates a composite fluid, such as blood, into the components
thereof in a centrifugal separation device. The fluid is delivered to a
fluid receiving area in a rotor from which area the fluid travels through
a radial inlet channel having an inlet channel height to a proximal end
of a circumferential fluid separation channel. Near a distal end of the
separation channel, fluid components travel into distinct first and
second outlet channels. The height of the first channel is greater than
the height of the more distal second channel. The inlet channel height is
greater than the height of the first channel. The rotor may be balanced
by axially symmetrical sets of inlet channels, separation channels and
outlet channels or by a balance channel connected to the separation
channel but displaced from the outlet channels.