Peripheral Blood Stem Cells (PBSC)

How are peripheral blood stem cells collected?
Cells are collected via the bloodstream. To increase the number of stem cells in the bloodstream, donors receive daily injections of a synthetic protein called filgrastim for 4 days before the collection.

On the day of collection the donor’s blood is then removed from one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood stem cells. The remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other arm. The cell collection is an outpatient procedure which takes about 6-8 hours and is done over a 1-2 day period.

Possible side effects and recovery:
Most donors experience headaches, or bone or muscle aches several days before the collection. This is a side effect of the filgrastim injections. The achiness subsides shortly after the collection.

Click here to become a bone marrow donor.