Analysis for the optimal blood draw speed to collect sufficient peripheral blood mononuclear cells by COBE Spectra

In recent years the procedures for peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMNC) harvests have gradually been increasing. These PBMNCs are collected for several treatments, for example, donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI), immunotherapy for solid carcinoma, and regeneration therapy for ischemic limbs. In order to analyze the optimal procedure for collecting PBMNCs safely and efficiently, we evaluated 129 PBMNC apheresis procedures from April 1996 to May 2003, without hemopoietic stem cell mobilization by G-CSF. In every case, PBMNC collections were performed with a COBE Spectra cell separator (Gambro BCT). The median apheresis volume was 5550 mL. The median of blood draw speed was 48.1 mL/min. The median TNC (total nuclear cell) number in products was 50.4 x 10(3)/ micro L. In the regression analysis, no significant correlation was seen between the blood draw speed and the concentrations of TNC in products (Y = aX + b, a = 0.842497, b = 17.11352, r = 0.222032, P = 0.012464). A positive correlation was seen between WBC on apheresis day and the concentrations of TNC (Y = aX + b, a = 0.009822, b = 3.224679, r = 0.550431, P = 2.93 x 10(-11)). A significantly higher correlation was seen between the MNC (mononuclear cells) on apheresis day and the concentrations of TNC (Y = aX + b, a = 0.028278, b = 13.09266, r = 0.696988, P = 9.486 x 10(-9)). This study has shown evidence that a higher increment of blood draw speed does not provide a higher concentration of products. An adequate apheresis speed is about 40 mL/min. If we want to obtain sufficient cell counts, it is very important to obtain sufficient volume with a moderate blood draw speed, therefore protecting against side-effects.