Apheresis

Apheresis or cell separation refers to a procedure, whereby certain cells are removed form the blood. This is achieved by using a machine that would separate the cells. A needle is placed in a blood vessel and blood is taken and directed into the machine. Machine then spins the blood and separates the wanted cells, and will return the rest of blood back to the patients. This procedure is repeated daily until adequate number of cells are removed.

In case of removing bone marrow cells for bone marrow transplantation, the procedure may have to be repeated 5-10 times until enough number of cells are removed. There is a possibility of using Neupogen or Leukine to stimulate the bone marrow to release more cells into the blood, so that a higher number of cells could be removed each time.