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.