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BACKGROUND PBPC transplantation has become a widely accepted therapeutic option for patients with chemotherapy-sensitive malignancies. PBPCs facilitate even the transplantation of mismatched allogeneic cells, because of their better engraftment. PBPCs are harvested by leukapheresis after mobilization with G-CSF or chemotherapy and G-CSF. To improve the purity and yield of PBPC grafts, to ensure reproducibility of the procedure and to reduce platelet loss in the patient/donor, different fully automated PBPC collection systems were developed. We report here our experience with the new Amicus blood cell separator. METHODS From July 2000 to March 2001, 46 procedures were performed. Six donors underwent leukaphereses after G-CSF administration (10-12 microgr/Kg/day) beginning on day 4; 14 patients were harvested after chemotherapy and G-CSF or GM-CSF mobilization, when the peripheral CD34+ cell count was >20 cells/micrL. Peripheral venous access was preferred whenever possible, otherwise femoral or subclavian catheters were used. Complete cell counts and CD34+ cell evaluations were done both in patients and donors, before and after each procedure and in all the products of the apheresis. RESULTS A median of 8.959 L of blood (range 3.585-17.021 ) was processed with a duration of 315 minutes (range 215-400) at a blood flow rate of 40 ml/min (range 25-70). ACD was used at a ratio of 1:14. The products of apheresis had a median volume of 143 ml (range 70-306) and a Hct of 12.9% (range 1.6-21). Platelet contamination was low (722 × 10[sup 9]/L, range 55-1,620), according to a low collection efficiency (12%, range 2-34) and a low decrease of platelet level both in donors and patients (21 × 10[sup 9]/L, range 3-83); in contrast, CD34 + cell collection efficiency was high (59.5%, range 15-97). No adverse affects were observed. CONCLUSIONS Amicus blood cell separator has a high collection efficiency for PBPC collections and improves donor safety by reducing platelet loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Cord blood banks are established worldwide as a result of the increased use of umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation. The outcomes of this procedure relate to the cell dose of the UCB unit and the UCB collection. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the mode of collection influenced the biological features of the UCB units. Materials and methods: We studied 151 UCB units consecutively collected in the cesarean setting with two different methods: in utero after infant delivery and before delivery of the placenta, and ex utero after delivery of placenta. Results: Sixty-nine UCB units were collected in utero and 82 ex utero. The two groups were comparable for maternal and obstetric factors. The proportion of banked UCB units was similar in the two groups (38% vs 40%, respectively). No statistically significant differences were observed between the methods of collection in term of volume, white blood cell count, total nucleated cell content, CD34+ cells, and CFU-GM. Conclusion: This preliminary study showed that the two methods of collection in the cesarean setting were overlapping and valid if performed according to standard operating procedures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]