{"entity":{"id":"apheresis-starting-material","kind":"technology","name":"Apheresis and starting-material collection","aka":[],"tldr":"Apheresis is collecting a patient's white blood cells through a machine over several hours. Every autologous CAR-T begins here, and the quality of these cells shapes the final product.","summary":"Leukapheresis on Terumo BCT Spectra Optia or Fresenius Kabi Amicus/LOVO devices collects mononuclear cells at qualified centres; T-cell fitness at collection (affected by prior chemotherapy, bendamustine, and disease burden) predicts CAR-T expansion and response. Slot availability at apheresis units is a hidden bottleneck for CAR-T access, and standardisation of collection protocols is part of every sponsor's site qualification.","status":"standard-of-care","asOf":"2026-09-08","links":[{"label":"FDA guidance: considerations for the development of CAR T cell products","url":"https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/considerations-development-chimeric-antigen-receptor-car-t-cell-products"}],"tags":["supporting"],"related":[],"cancers":[],"sections":["cell-therapy"],"technologies":["car-t","cell-therapy-cold-chain"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":["terumo-bct","fresenius-kabi"],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"principle":"Continuous-flow centrifugation separates mononuclear cells from returning blood; product is characterised (CD3 count, viability) and shipped fresh or cryopreserved to manufacturing.","strengths":["Mature hospital procedure","Same devices serve stem-cell transplant"],"limitations":["Capacity at treatment centres","Variable T-cell fitness after prior therapy","Timing conflicts with bridging therapy"]},"route":"/technologies/apheresis-starting-material/","neighbours":{"section":[{"id":"cell-therapy","kind":"section","name":"Cell Therapy","route":"/fronts/cell-therapy/"}],"technology":[{"id":"car-t-manufacturing-process","kind":"technology","name":"Autologous CAR-T manufacturing, batch by batch","route":"/technologies/car-t-manufacturing-process/"},{"id":"autologous-stem-cell-transplant","kind":"technology","name":"Autologous stem cell transplant (high-dose therapy)","route":"/technologies/autologous-stem-cell-transplant/"},{"id":"car-t","kind":"technology","name":"CAR-T cell therapy","route":"/technologies/car-t/"},{"id":"cell-therapy-cold-chain","kind":"technology","name":"Cryopreservation and cell-therapy cold chain","route":"/technologies/cell-therapy-cold-chain/"},{"id":"dendritic-cell-vaccines","kind":"technology","name":"Dendritic cell vaccines","route":"/technologies/dendritic-cell-vaccines/"},{"id":"tcr-t","kind":"technology","name":"TCR-T cell therapy","route":"/technologies/tcr-t/"}],"company":[{"id":"fresenius-kabi","kind":"company","name":"Fresenius Kabi","route":"/companies/fresenius-kabi/"},{"id":"terumo-bct","kind":"company","name":"Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies","route":"/companies/terumo-bct/"}],"term":[{"id":"apheresis","kind":"term","name":"Apheresis (leukapheresis)","route":"/terms/apheresis/"},{"id":"lymphoma-tx-car-t-pathway","kind":"term","name":"The CAR-T pathway in lymphoma: referral, apheresis, bridging and the waiting","route":"/terms/lymphoma-tx-car-t-pathway/"}],"paper":[{"id":"paper-eliana-tisagenlecleucel-nejm-2018","kind":"paper","name":"ELIANA: the global trial that made tisagenlecleucel the first approved CAR-T therapy for children and young adults with relapsed ALL","route":"/key-papers/paper-eliana-tisagenlecleucel-nejm-2018/"}],"drug":[{"id":"plerixafor","kind":"drug","name":"Plerixafor","route":"/drugs/plerixafor/"}]}}