Our Services | UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Apheresis Services is staffed with experienced physicians and registered nurses trained in apheresis procedures and who are committed to providing the highest quality patient care.

Apheresis Services provides clinical apheresis support to all UC Davis Medical Center programs, including the Stem Cell Transplant Program, Kidney Transplant Program and lung transplant recipients, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment to provide the following types of services:

• Peripheral blood stem cell collections, both autologous and allogeneic
• Therapeutic cell collections
• Therapeutic apheresis:
  • Therapeutic plasma exchange
  • Red blood cell exchange 
  • Photopheresis therapy to treat graft-versus-host disease and other indications
  • White blood cell and platelet depletions

The department also serves as the only National Marrow Program (NMDP) Apheresis Center in the greater Sacramento area for the collection of donor peripheral blood stem cells and therapeutic cells. These cells are used in transplants for patients all over the world.

The Apheresis Services is registered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and licensed by the California Department of Public Health for producing biological products for treatment of humans. It also shares the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) accreditation with the clinical section of the Stem Cell Transplant Program.

Children who undergo surgery at UC Davis Children’s Hospital are treated in our state-of the-art children’s surgery center, the first level I Children’s Surgery Center on the West Coast and fourth in the nation, as verified by the American College of Surgeons.

Our Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Laboratory (HPCL) team has extensive experience in the field of cellular therapy and Good Tissue Practices including:

• Processing and freezing (cryopreservation) of stem cells derived from peripheral blood and bone marrow
• Plasma reduction and red-cell depletion of apheresis and bone marrow products when major or minor ABO (blood group system) incompatibilities between donor and patient exist
• Long-term storage in liquid nitrogen storage tanks and management of stem cells
• Thawing of cryopreserved stem cells for re-infusion
• Preparation of donor lymphocyte infusions 
• Thawing and washing of cord blood
• Shipping frozen stem cells to other stem cell transplant centers

HPCL utilizes a continuous monitoring and alarm system for 24/7 control of stem cell storage.

HPCL collaborates with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Laboratory at the Institute for Regenerative Cures located at the UC Davis Medical Center and with other stem cell research groups, and participates in innovative research projects leading to development of new treatments utilizing stem cells.

HPCL is accredited by the Foundation Accreditation for Cellular Therapy (FACT) and the College of American Pathologists. It is also registered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and licensed by the California Department of Public Health for producing biological products for treatment of humans. These accreditations and licenses indicate that the laboratory meets or exceeds the standards and regulations required for manufacturing of stem cell therapy products.

Pediatric stem cell transplants & cellular therapies (SCTCT) take place on the inpatient pediatric acute care unit in the children’s hospital, in one of the single patient isolation rooms with private bathrooms. Each patient room has an anteroom where staff wash their hands and put on a mask before entering the patient’s room.

Each SCTCT room is equipped with positive pressure airflow and a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration unit to minimize the presence of potentially infectious germs. Each room has dedicated medical examining equipment, scales and monitors (if needed) to minimize the chance of transmitting infection to the patient.

Only authorized personnel are permitted on the pediatric acute care unit and visitors are screened for illness and limited to two for each SCTCT candidate to reduce the risk of infection.

Nursing care is provided by registered nurses trained and experienced in the management of stem cell transplant and cellular therapy patients. Physicians are available 24/7. Many other members of the multidisciplinary team support the care of the SCTCT population.

The facility (UC Davis Medical Center), where pediatric stem cell transplants and cellular therapies take place, is accredited and certified by the Joint Commission. The certification is a symbol of quality for the healthcare organizations and reflects commitment to meeting certain performance standards.