What is the process of apheresis?
The process of apheresis involves removal of whole blood from a patient or donor. Within an instrument that is essentially designed as a centrifuge, the components of whole blood are separated. One of the separated portions is then withdrawn and the remaining components are retransfused into the patient or donor.
What are the types of apheresis?
Types
- Plasmapheresis – blood plasma.
- Erythrocytapheresis – red blood cells.
- Plateletpheresis (thrombapheresis, thrombocytapheresis) – blood platelets.
- Leukapheresis – leukocytes (white blood cells).
- Stem cell harvesting – circulating bone marrow cells are harvested to use in bone marrow transplantation.
Why would you need apheresis?
Apheresis may be used for the collection of donor blood components or for the removal of parts of the blood that might contain disease-provoking elements. Apheresis may be used in the treatment of blood cancers and a range of other blood disorders.
What Conditions treat apheresis?
Apheresis
- •A technology that separates donated blood components to treat certain illnesses.
- •For people with sickle cell disease, leukemia, myasthenia gravis, and other blood disorders.
- •Process takes two to four hours and is similar to a regular blood donation.
What does an apheresis machine do?
Apheresis systems collect and separate blood components for donation; they can also remove or exchange substances in therapeutic procedures. Apheresis units incorporate polyvinyl tubing that draws blood from the patient and moves it through centrifuges and/or filters to separate blood products.
What is the machine called that separates blood?
centrifuge
A machine called a centrifuge spins your blood to separate your red blood cells, platelets and plasma. As the blood is separated, the heavier reds cells sink to the bottom and are given back to you.
How often can apheresis be done?
Platelets may be donated as often as every seven days, though with double apheresis red cell donations, a donor has to wait up to 16 weeks before giving again.
What are the side effects of apheresis?
Some people have side effects from apheresis. These may include an allergic reaction, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, or low blood pressure. You may feel numbness, tingling, and itching. Most side effects will stop when the treatment ends.