Stem Cell Collection

This study is designed for the collection of stem cells from the bloodstream for use in research studies. These cells will be studied to determine if they have unique features particular to the donor that may or may not affect their use for developing new treatments. Volunteers with or without a blood disease may be eligible to donate stem cells for this study. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may not enroll. Donors are evaluated with a medical history and physical examination, blood tests and an ultrasound examination of the spleen. They then undergo stem cell mobilization and apheresis as follows: Donors are given injections of a hormone called G-CSF every day for 5 days to stimulate release of stem cells from the bone marrow into the bloodstream for collection. On the day of the last injection, donors undergo apheresis to obtain white cells and stem cells. For this procedure, blood is withdrawn through a catheter (plastic tube) placed in a vein and directed into a machine where the white cells and stem cells are separated from the rest of the blood by a spinning process. These cells are extracted and collected in a bag inside the machine, and the rest of the blood is returned to the donor through a second catheter in a vein in the other arm. The procedure takes 4 to 5 hours.