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Apheresis, What does this mean?

Apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) is an automated blood collection technology that allows a donor to give specific blood components, such as platelets. During the apheresis procedure, all but the needed blood components are returned to the donor.

This process allows more of a particular part of the blood to be collected than could be separated from a unit of Whole Blood. Apheresis is also performed to collect Plasma (liquid part of the blood) and Granulocytes (White Blood Cells).

The Apheresis donation procedure takes longer than Whole Blood donation. A Whole Blood donation takes about 10-20 minutes to collect the blood, while an apheresis donation may take about one to two hours.

How the apheresis program works?
Apheresis technology allows the donation center staff to tailor your blood donation to local demand. When customizing your donation, they consider factors like your blood type and how many times per year you donate. Donors can give a unit of platelets, red blood cells, and/or plasma through the Apheresis Program.

Automating the blood donation process
During your donation, blood is drawn and channeled through a sterile, single use tubing set into an automated system. Using a centrifuge built into the automated system, the most needed component is collected and then the remaining blood components are returned back to you. It takes between 70 minutes and 2 hours to complete this process. You may watch television or videotapes, listen to music, surf the Internet on our wireless Internet connection, or simply sit back and relax while helping to save a life.

How is Stem Cell Apheresis Done?
During apheresis, the patient or donor is connected to the apheresis machine. In the case of a patient donating their own stem cells, this process is performed using a central venous catheter, which has two lumens (two tubes within one catheter; see the Linecare pamphlet). Occasionally, the veins of a donor are so difficult to access that a temporary pheresis catheter in the chest or the groin becomes necessary.

Donation by Apheresis
The process of apheresis has become essential in providing blood components for therapy. A volunteer donor will undergo apheresis to supply specific components. The process takes a couple of hours. Examples include:

Plateletpheresis: this is the most common means for supplying HLA matched platelets to patients who have become HLA sensitized and require platelets from a single donor whose HLA type matches theirs.

Plasmapheresis: the plasma can be removed to supply blood components such as clotting factors. Donors can give plasma via this mechanism more often than they can donate whole blood.

Leukapheresis: the leukocytes (specifically the granulocytes) can be harvested from a donor to supply granulocytes to help fight infection in patients such as neonates.

What Are Possible Risks/Complications?
The actual apheresis process is painless. Patients may experience some lightheadedness, numbness or tingling of the nose, lips, or fingers, but these symptoms are short-lived and easily treatable. To collect sufficient stem cells, the apheresis process must be performed for at least two consecutive days, although five or more procedures may be necessary. Each apheresis procedure takes from three to five hours. Possible complications include bleeding at the needle sites, clotting in blood vessels used for collection (thrombosis), or surgical complications if a temporary pheresis catheter needs to be inserted. Since the procedure involves penetrating the skin, and open access to blood vessels, infection is always a risk.

Remember that 1 donation saves 3 lifes!