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Apheresis units primarily designed to automate the removal of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), from the peripheral blood of a patient, close relative, or other appropriate donor. Typically, peripheral blood is collected and mononuclear white blood cells and peripheral blood stem cells are harvested in a blood cell separator and transferred to a collection bag while the other blood components (plasma, red blood cells, platelets) are returned to the patient. These apheresis units usually consist of a disposable pheresis set (i.e., a tubing set that connects the patient to the apheresis unit); pumps (e.g., rotary peristaltic pumps); a centrifugation chamber or membrane filtration unit; centrifugation bowls; dedicated cartridge separators; clamps, controls (e.g., centrifuge and pump speed, volume of solution added); alarms; and bubble detectors. One or two HSC harvests are usually sufficient to obtain enough cells from normal allogeneic donors, but in autologous cases some patients may have to undergo three, four, or more daily apheresis procedures; the collected cells can be used in bone marrow transplantation usually after chemotherapy procedures.
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