Always follow of the advice of your care team.
Overview of Cell Collection Methods
There are two ways your stem cells can be collected, or harvested, for your autologous transplant – peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvest or bone marrow harvest. Your doctor will discuss with you which of these methods should be used for your treatment.
Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvest: You will take daily injections of filgrastim, a medication which increases the number of circulating stem cells in your blood, where they can be collected. The stem cells will then be collected in an outpatient setting using a procedure called apheresis.
During apheresis, blood is removed through a needle from one arm (peripheral IV), the stem cells are collected, and the remaining blood components are returned through a needle in the other arm.
While peripheral IV is the most common venous access used in apheresis, when medically necessary, a central venous access catheter may need to be placed by Interventional Radiology.
Video: The Stem Cell Collection Process for Autologous Stem Cell Patients
Video: How to Give Growth Factor Injections at Home
Bone marrow harvest: Bone marrow is collected in the operating room while you are under general anesthesia.
Your health care team uses needles and a syringe to take marrow from your iliac crest (the back of your pelvis).
If you are an allogeneic transplant patient, a donor’s stem cells will be collected by one of these methods, however you will not undergo this process.
Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvest: You will take daily injections of filgrastim, a medication which increases the number of circulating stem cells in your blood, where they can be collected. The stem cells will then be collected in an outpatient setting using a procedure called apheresis.
During apheresis, blood is removed through a needle from one arm (peripheral IV), the stem cells are collected, and the remaining blood components are returned through a needle in the other arm.
While peripheral IV is the most common venous access used in apheresis, when medically necessary, a central venous access catheter may need to be placed by Interventional Radiology.
Video: The Stem Cell Collection Process for Autologous Stem Cell Patients
Video: How to Give Growth Factor Injections at Home
Bone marrow harvest: Bone marrow is collected in the operating room while you are under general anesthesia.
Your health care team uses needles and a syringe to take marrow from your iliac crest (the back of your pelvis).
If you are an allogeneic transplant patient, a donor’s stem cells will be collected by one of these methods, however you will not undergo this process.