PBSC‐collection in patients using the FRESENIUS‐AS 104 leucollect‐protocol.

While collecting peripheral blood derived stem cell (PBSC) concentrates for autografting, we investigated the applicability of the new, completely microprocessor controlled continuous flow cell separator Fresenius-AS 104 for PBSC-collection in patients. After correcting some small initial problems, we are working using the Leucollect program version 4.4. 32 separations carried out in 11 patients are evaluable. Due to venous problems, we had to stop one separation after processing 2863 ml. Therefore, a mean peripheral blood volume of 9101ml (±1391) per separation has been processed and PBSC concentrates of 276 ml (±43) were collected. During the 215min (range: 97–252) separation time, no technical problems occured. As the absolute cell count in the concentrates depends on the patients preseparation count, we defined the program's efficiency as percentage of the collected mononuclear cells (MNC) and granulocyte-monocyte-colony-forming-units (CFU-GM) in relation to the cells that were theoretically available and obtained a mean MNC-efficiency of 47.2 % and a mean CFU-GM-efficiency of 126.4 %.