Leukocytapheresis in nonmobilized donors for cellular therapy protocols: Evaluation of factors affecting collection...

Collection efficiency (CE1) of cells refers to the number of cells that are collected from the total number of cells processed by the apheresis device. Limited data are available about the CE1 of cells when performing leukocytapheresis in nonmobilized donors for cellular therapy purposes. The aim of our study was to evaluate donor- and procedure-related characteristics that might influence the CE1 of cells.

Variables that predicted the CE1 of cells were analyzed by longitudinal linear regression in a series of 1071 leukocytapheresis procedures on 249 nonmobilized donors. Donor-related characteristics considered were gender, age, total blood volume, and complete blood count (CBC) data. Procedure-related characteristics considered were vascular access and device used.

Older donor age was associated with a decrease in the CE1 of leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and mononuclear cells (MNCs; sum of leukocytes and monocytes) and with an increase in the CE1 of platelets (P < .05). Preprocedure CBC data (leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and platelets) were associated with either a statistically significant increase or decrease in the CE1 of cells. Central line used as vascular access was associated with a statistically significant decrease in the CE1 of MNCs (P = .02).

Donor's age, preprocedure CBC data as well as central line used as vascular access were factors associated with CE1 of cells. Knowing these characteristics is helpful in the apheresis unit when designing cellular therapy protocols in order to maximize the CE1 of the desired cell and to personalize collection variables for each donor.