Apherésis

Apherésis is a medical procedure used to separate and collect specific components from a donor's blood, returning the remaining blood to the donor. This process is typically performed using a machine called a separator. The specific component removed depends on the purpose of the donation. For example, apheresis can be used to collect platelets, which are essential for blood clotting, or plasma, the liquid part of blood containing antibodies and proteins. Stem cells, which can be used to treat various blood disorders and cancers, can also be collected through apheresis.

The procedure is generally safe and well-tolerated. It involves inserting two intravenous (IV) lines into the donor's arm, or one line in each arm, through which blood is drawn, processed by the apheresis machine, and then returned. The process can take anywhere from one to several hours, depending on the type and amount of blood product being collected. Donors are closely monitored throughout the procedure. Apheresis donations are vital for patients who require specific blood components that cannot be obtained through whole blood donation. It allows for a concentrated collection of a particular component, maximizing its therapeutic benefit for recipients.