Improving cellular therapy operations through pre-harvest measurement of peripheral CD34-positive cell counts in allogeneic stem cell harvest

Previously, our institution measured peripheral blood CD34 cell counts both pre- and post-peripheral blood stem cell harvest (PBSCH), with both samples analyzed simultaneously post-PBSCH. Since 2021, we have measured pre-CD34 cell counts during PBSCH, adjusting the processed blood volume based on these results. We retrospectively evaluated how this change impacted cellular therapy. Related healthy donors were included and divided into 1-day and 2-day harvest cohorts. Donors with CD34 cell counts measured post- and during PBSCH were categorized into the previous and current sub-cohorts, respectively. Regarding the 1-day cohort (n = 212), the current sub-cohort had a significantly shorter average harvest duration (151 [standard deviation, SD = 45.1] vs. 180 [SD = 27.8] minutes, respectively) and higher average infusion rates (87.6% [SD = 21.1] vs. 78.1% [SD = 25.7], respectively) than the previous sub-cohort. Adjusting the processed blood volume based on pre-PBSCH CD34 cell counts measured during the harvest may reduce donor burden and enhance workflow efficiency.