Bone marrow harvest for marrow transplantation: effect of multiple small (2 ml) or large (20 ml) aspirates

The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield of nucleated cells and CFU-GM and the T cell composition in bone marrow harvested by means of multiple small (2 ml) or large (20 ml) aspirations. Eleven marrow donors were studied: each donated 1000 ml of bone marrow in two aliquots of 500 ml for an HLA identical sibling transplant. In six cases the first 500 ml were harvested by means of multiple 2 ml aspirations (A) and the second 500 ml by means of 20 ml aspirations (B). In five cases the opposite was done: 20 ml aspirates first (C) and 2 ml afterwards (D). From each 500 ml aliquot a sample was taken for enumeration of nucleated cells and CD3+ lymphocytes and for CFU-GM growth. Small volume aspirations (groups A and D) yielded more nucleated cells (p = 0.02), more CFU-GM (p = 0.03) and fewer CD3+ cells (p = 0.1) when compared with large volume aspirations (groups B and C). This study shows that marrow harvesting by means of multiple small volume aspirations minimizes the dilution with peripheral blood and results in greater numbers of cells and hemopoietic progenitors.