Stem Cell Mobilization and Collection

During this phase, the donor will undergo the stem cell collection process. There are several steps in this phase:

1. Central venous catheter placement:

In order to collect stem cells from the blood stream, we require the placement of a special intravenous catheter which enables the apheresis machine to draw blood out of the donor's body and return it to their body at high rates. This increases the efficiency of the collection process. It will be removed shortly after the stem cells are collected.

The catheter will be inserted by our Interventional Radiologists who specialize in placing these lines.

2. Stem cell mobilization:

Stem cells are normally located inside the bone marrow. We will induce the stem cells to move from the marrow and out into the blood stream where they can easily be collected:

G-CSF is a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to grow very rapidly; when this occurs, stem cells move out into the blood stream in large numbers.

3. Stem cell apheresis:

In order to collect the stem cells from the blood after the mobilization technique described above, one must use a machine called an apheresis machine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This instrument is a computerized centrifuge that collects a small amount of blood from your body.

 

 Once the blood is in the machine it is spun at high speeds which separates the blood into different layers.

The machine is programmed to collect the layer containing the stem cells.

The portion of the blood not containing stem cells is returned back to the donor. This procedure usually takes 3-5 hours. Typically it is done for 1-2 days.

 

4. Bone Marrow Harvest:

Some donors may have stem cells collected from the bone marrow under general anesthesia.

Click here to go to the next phase (stem cell processing and storage).