ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the methods for collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Peripheral blood stem cells were collected from 20 child patients and 11 donors. The patients treated with chemotherapy, received G-CSF or GM-CSF and the donors received G-CSF for mobilization. When the peripheral blood (PB) leukocyte count reached to 5 X10(9)/L,the hematopoietic stem cells were collected with CS-3000 Plus, COM TEC or COBE Spectra blood cell separators from patients and donors. For children whose weight <20 kg,HCT <24% or TBV <1 100-1 650 ml,blood cell separators were pre-injected with the same type RBCs irradiated by 25 Gy of gamma-ray and with low flow rate (10-30 ml/min). The number of CD34(+) cell was detected by flow cytometry. The relationship of number of CD34(+) cell with mononuclear cell (MNC) and processed blood volume was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Successful collection of the PBSCs with the CS- 3000 Plus (n=10), the COM TEC (n=3) and the COBE Spectra (n=18) was achieved in all the 31 cases with 1-5 aphereses used. Number of CD34(+) cells was (7.9 ±2.9) X 10(6)/kg and that of MNCs was (7.4 ±3.1) X 10(8)/kg. The total CD34(+) cell count was correlated with MNCs before aphaeresis and processed blood volume.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For collection of high quality PBSCs, the appropriate methods should be chosen according to the body weight, TBV, mobilization of child patients/donors.</p>