Apheresis is a method of collecting blood components in which the venous blood taken is separated into the desired components, which are then withheld outside the body using a special apparatus, while the remaining blood components are returned to the donor.
Apheresis stages (drawing blood, separating blood, retaining the desired components and returning the remaining blood components) are repeated until the desired volume of blood components is collected.
Apheresis is used to collect plasma and cells. It is performed using a special apparatus, i.e. plasma or cell separators.
