Apheresis Services
At Carter BloodCare, we understand the significant role apheresis services play in the treatment of numerous diseases, as well as in the research of leading-edge therapies. That’s precisely why our apheresis experts serve urgent and routine patient needs where you need us most – at the bedside. In addition to serving as a designated National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) apheresis collection site, we perform leukocyte and platelet depletion, plasma exchange, red cell exchange and cellular therapy collections. If we can help your patients, give us a call.
Carter BloodCare provides mobile adult and pediatric therapeutic apheresis procedures throughout the North Texas area, including Dallas/Ft Worth. This service is provided for hospitals that do not have an apheresis program, but also may serve as a back-up program for hospitals that do provide apheresis services but need assistance for rarely performed procedures or may require back-up in the event that hospital staff are not available to perform the procedures. Carter BloodCare’s therapeutic apheresis staff includes Registered Nurses and/or Hemapheresis Practitioners certified through the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, (ASCP) and apheresis technicians. All are trained in Basic Life Support/CPR (Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation).
Due to regulatory considerations, a current, signed contract is required to initiate Apheresis Services. In addition, technical or nursing staff must be credentialed to enter and work in your facility. If these arrangements are not in place, emergency privileges must be established for professional staff performing the procedures.
Therapeutic Apheresis Procedures
We provide apheresis procedures for adult and pediatric patients across the DFW Metroplex and beyond.
Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is used to treat a variety of medical conditions including:
Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (Guillain-Barré syndrome)
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
Antibody mediated rejection of kidney/heart/lung transplantation
Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease (Goodpasture’s syndrome)
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome
Chronic acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
Cryoglobulinemia
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Hyperviscosity in hyergammaglobulinemia (as seen with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia)
Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
Multiple Sclerosis
Myasthenia gravis
Myeloma cast nephropathy
Neuromyelitis optical spectrum disorder
NMDA receptor antibody encephalitis
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Voltage-gated potassium channel antibody-related diseases
Wilson’s disease, fulminant
Red cell exchange is primarily used in the treatment of sickle cell disease, but can also be used to treat severe cases of malaria.
Indications for red cell exchange in Sickle Cell Disease include:
Pre-operative
Refractory pain crisis
Acute chest syndrome
Leukocyte depletion is performed for the treatment of Acute Leukemia with severe leukocytosis.
Platelet depletion is performed to quickly lower platelet counts in patients who are experiencing severe symptoms due to Essential Thrombocythemia or other hematologic malignancies.
Therapeutic phlebotomy is available for the inpatient, with a physician’s order. This on-site service is indicated for hospitalized patients or those with medical conditions that preclude phlebotomy in the donor center.
Extracorporeal Photopheresis is an immunomodulatory therapy used to treat a variety of diseases including:
Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma, refractory to other therapies
Mycosis Fungoides
Sezary Syndrome
Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient)
Cellular allograft rejection (lung or heart)
Scleroderma (progressive systemic sclerosis), in some cases
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Apheresis procedures are performed by our nurses at your facility. We work with your onsite physicians to write the orders. We do not provide onsite medical supervision; however, our physicians with expertise in clinical apheresis are available by phone for consultation. To facilitate this relationship, please contact Hospital Relations to establish a contract. We will need to get staff credentialed in your facility if we have not worked there previously. If we already have a working relationship with you, call 972-788-0650 to schedule a procedure.
Cellular Therapy Collections
The Clinical Apheresis team at Carter BloodCare provides cellular therapy collections of both hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and mononuclear cells (MNCs) for both clinical and research use. Processing and storage is available through the Carter BloodCare cellular therapy laboratory, if needed.
Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells (HPCs) and Mononuclear Cells (MNCs)/Leukopaks from Peripheral Blood
Our team of specialists perform the collection of autologous and allogeneic HPCs, MNCs, and donor lymphocytes; which are used in the treatment of leading-edge therapies. Please note: agreements to process, freeze and store hematopoietic cells must exist between the requesting facility, Carter BloodCare and the donor.
Facilities requesting collection of HPCs from peripheral blood by apheresis should contact the Clinical Apheresis Department. Prior to each HPC collection, the institution must perform administration of G-CSF, catheter placement (when appropriate) and appropriate reports documenting clearance for use. In addition, a Complete Blood Count (CBC) including differential count must be performed before collection.
Donor Prescreen for Cellular Therapy Collections
Carter BloodCare tailors the prescreening process to client needs. Donors may undergo a prescreening process prior to the start of the first collection. The prescreen process typically includes evaluation of peripheral access, pregnancy assessment for female donor, and consent for release of medical information. Pregnancy assessments must be performed before hematopoietic growth factor administration or myeloablative therapy of the recipient. In cases of poor peripheral access, central venous catheter placement may be coordinated with the referring provider.
Collection of Cellular Therapy Products
Cell Therapy collection services are available for autologous and allogeneic, adult and pediatric patients. Cell Therapy collection may be performed at an outside facility or a predetermined Carter BloodCare neighborhood donor center.
Cell Therapy collection is done by trained personnel using apheresis cell separators. These collections are generally performed as an outpatient procedure and requires adequate preplanning. Autologous donors and patients may require placement of a central venous catheter that can accommodate high volume flow rates, typically either a Quinton or a similar dialysis-type catheter. Generally, healthy allogeneic donors can undergo cell therapy collections using peripheral venous access.
Emergency Privileges
For emergency privileges several items must be completed prior to the procedure. A physician must agree to sponsor the professional staff. A facility administrator must give verbal approval for the procedure to be performed and provide basic billing information.
To initiate emergency privileges:
Click here to download the Emergency Privileges & Authorization to Treat contract
The ordering physician and a clinic/hospital administrative representative must sign and return the Emergency Privileges & Authorization to Treat contract
Email the completed contract to capher@carterbloodcare.org and notify the Clinical Apheresis manager at 972-788-0650
Clinical Research Assistance
Carter BloodCare is an essential partner of both pharma and academia in a number of studies that have taken new products through development, clinical trials, and licensing. We have biologic collection capabilities for research protocol needs.
