The procedure generally takes several hours and is performed in an outpatient setting. It involves the following steps:
Mobilization: The donor or patient receives medications, such as growth factors, to stimulate the production and release of stem cells into the bloodstream. Collection: Blood is drawn from one arm and passed through an apheresis machine, which separates the stem cells from other blood components. The remaining blood is returned through the other arm. Storage: The collected stem cells are processed and stored until they are needed for transplantation.