Granulocyte Donation

What are granulocytes?

Granulocytes are a fraction of white blood cells (WBCs) and thus a normal component of human blood. They are required for the treatment of infections within the framework of bone marrow transplantation or diseases of the haematopoietic system and can be obtained from human blood after preparatory measures within the framework of granulocytapheresis.

Procedure of granulocyte donation

In this technical process, your blood is fed into the cell separator with the addition of a sedimentation accelerator (6% hydroxyethyl starch solution) and an anticoagulant (citrate). A centrifuge with a plastic centrifuge insert rotates in the cell separator. The granulocytes are enriched in the centrifuge and then collected in a bag. The process ensures that a large part of the WBK/granulocytes is collected and almost all other blood components flow back into the donor's body. Usually several granulocytaphereses are required on consecutive days or at short intervals of a few days. The apheresis lasts about 2 to 3 hours. Since only disposable items are used, transmission of diseases by cell separation is not possible. Granulocyte concentrates are freshly transfused a few hours after production. The granulocyte donation is always connected with a medicinal pre-treatment of the donor (mobilisation).