apheresis

medical procedure

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Apheresis is a medical procedure where blood is drawn from a donor or patient, specific components like plasma, platelets, or white blood cells are removed, and the remaining blood is returned. This process is also known as pheresis.1

A specific type, leukapheresis, focuses on collecting white blood cells. It's used to treat conditions where white blood cells multiply uncontrollably, such as certain blood cancers like leukemia. The procedure involves drawing blood, separating white blood cells using a machine, and returning the other components to the body. It typically takes at least two to three hours and can have side effects like decreased calcium levels or dizziness. Leukapheresis is also a key step in CAR T-cell therapy, where T cells are collected, genetically modified to fight cancer, and then reinfused into the patient.2

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bone marrow transplant
Collection of donor stem cells
…marrow donor are collected using apheresis. During this procedure, blood is drawn from one arm and passes through a machine that collects the stem cells. The remaining portion of the blood is then returned to the donor via a catheter inserted in the arm opposite the one from which the…
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…marrow donor are collected using apheresis. During this procedure, blood is drawn from one arm and passes through a machine that collects the stem cells. The remaining portion of the blood is then returned to the donor via a catheter inserted in the arm opposite the one from which the…
Read More

blood bank
…somewhat by the development of apheresis, a technique by which only a desired blood component is taken from the donor’s blood, with the remaining fluid and blood cells immediately transfused back into the donor. This technique allows the collection of large amounts of a particular component, such as plasma or…
Read More
…somewhat by the development of apheresis, a technique by which only a desired blood component is taken from the donor’s blood, with the remaining fluid and blood cells immediately transfused back into the donor. This technique allows the collection of large amounts of a particular component, such as plasma or…
Read More