Collection of peripheral blood progenitor cells with an automated leukapheresis system

BACKGROUND: Apheresis devices designed for the collection of mature blood e lements are being used for the collection of peripheral blood progenitor ce lls (PBPCs). The collection of PBPCs differs from that of other cells in th e rarity of the target cell and in the fact that donors may undergo several days of collection. A consequence of this process may be a depletion of bl ood cells such as platelets from the blood. The disposable set and operatin g software for an apheresis device (Spectra, COBE BCT) was modified by the manufacturer to automate the collection of PBPCs and reduce the collection of unwanted blood cells. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A study was initiated to compare the collection o f PBPCs with the new device, the AutoPBSC (version [V]6.0 with AutoPBSC tub ing set), and that with the MNC (mononuclear cell) procedure (V4.7 with whi te cell tubing set), for patients and healthy donors. RESULTS: Patients whose blood was processed by either the V6.0 or V4.7 proc edure achieved the target dose of 5 x 10(6) CD34+ cells per kg of patient w eight in similar numbers of procedures, even though the calculated collecti on efficiency for CD34+ cells using the automated V6.0 procedure was signif icantly less than that with the V4.7 procedure for both allogeneic donors a nd patients donating PBPCs. The collection efficiency for platelets was low er with the V6.0 procedure, and components collected in this manner contain ed fewer platelets. Apheresis by the V6.0 procedure required 30 to 60 more minutes per procedure than apheresis by the V4.7 procedure. Review of engra ftment kinetics after transplantation did not reveal any effect of the coll ection procedure on recipients of either allogeneic or autologous transplan ts. CONCLUSION:The collection efficiencies of the V6.0 procedure for both CD34 cells and mature blood cells are lower than those of the V4.7 procedure. T he lower collection efficiency for platelets results in a smaller drop in p eripheral blood platelet count after the procedure. The automated features of the V6.0 procedure may simplify PBPC collection, but this procedure requ ires a longer apheresis.