What Is the Process of Harvesting Adult Stem Cells?

Stem cells are created naturally within the body before becoming specialized cells, which can be defective and lead to disease and birth defects.

Considerations

• Donated organs are predominantly used in transplants to replace damaged organs, meaning cells and tissues cannot be taken from these organs for medical procedures.

History

• Adult stem cells have been harvested since the 1960s for the treatment of diseases such as leukemia, for which a bone marrow transplant is a successful treatment.

Match Identification

• The process of harvesting adult stem cells begins with a donor providing a blood sample that is matched to a suitable patient with the same blood type.

Preceding Procedure

• Prior to a peripheral stem cell transplant, the donor is provided with a drug such as Neupogen, which when taken a few days prior to donation, forces stem cells from the bone marrow into the bloodstream.

Harvesting

• A process called aphaeresis is used to remove the blood and stem cells of the donor before replacing the blood in the donor's other arm.

Time Frame

• The actual process of harvesting stem cells requires approximately one day in hospital for aphaeresis to be completed.