Stem cell apheresis

What are hematopoietic stem cells?

Blood stem cells and/or lymphocytes are required for the treatment of diseases of the hematopoietic system or tumor diseases. After preparatory measures (e.g. administration of growth factors for bone marrow precursor cells), stem cells are washed out (mobilized) from the bone marrow into the blood. Lymphocytes are normal cellular components of the blood. Stem cells or lymphocytes can be obtained from human blood as part of a cell separation.

Stem cell donation procedure

In this procedure, which takes up to 5 hours, your blood is fed into the cell separator with the addition of an anticoagulant (citrate). A centrifuge with a plastic centrifuge insert rotates in the cell separator. The blood stem cells/lymphocytes are enriched (concentrated) there and then collected in a bag. The procedure ensures that a large proportion of the blood stem cells/lymphocytes are collected and almost all other blood components flow back into the donor's body. As a rule, 1-3 stem cell/lymphocyte apheresis sessions on consecutive days are sufficient to collect the required number of cells. Only disposable items are used. Transmission of diseases is therefore not possible.