What happens on the day of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation?

On the day of PBSC donation, you arrive at the collection site early, receive your final filgrastim injection and have a quick blood draw to confirm your blood stem cell count. Then, you’re connected to an apheresis machine that draws blood from one arm, filters out the blood stem cells and returns the blood through the other arm. 

The collection takes four to eight hours. There’s no anesthesia and no surgery. You’re awake the entire time and may be able to watch TV or relax, depending on what’s available at the collection site and what feels comfortable for you. Most donors finish their donation in one day.

PBSC donations usually start in the morning. When you arrive at the collection site, you’ll check in with the care team. They’ll help you understand each step of the process.

After check-in, you’ll have a quick blood draw to check your complete blood stem cell count and receive your final filgrastim injection. This is the last dose in a five-day series that helps move blood stem cells from your bone marrow into your bloodstream so they can be collected. Your care team will use your blood count to confirm there are enough cells in your blood.

You’re welcome to bring a companion for support. Many collection sites are designed with comfort in mind, with TVs, games and snacks available during your visit.

PBSC donation is not surgery. There’s no incision and no anesthesia. You’ll be awake throughout the donation, with the care team there to support you.

Generally, an IV needle is placed in each arm. Blood is drawn from one arm, passed through a machine called an apheresis machine that collects your blood stem cells and returned to you through the other arm.

Collection usually takes four to eight hours, depending on how many cells the patient needs. By the end of the process, your collected cells fit into one to two small bags. For a patient waiting for a blood stem cell transplant, that small bag can represent a life-saving chance.

 Learn more about the steps of peripheral blood stem cell donation

Once collection is complete, the care team will remove your IVs, check that you're feeling well and monitor you for a short period. Then you can return home or to where you’re staying. Most donors complete their donation in one day. Some donors (only about 2%) need to come back the next day.

Many donors say the day felt easier than they expected:

After PBSC donation, your body replaces the collected blood stem cells naturally within about a week. Some donors feel tired or have aches from the filgrastim for a day or two, but most return to normal activities right away.