apheresis

noun

aphe·​re·​sis ˌa-fə-ˈrē-səs 

plural aphereses ˌa-fə-ˈrē-ˌsēz 

: withdrawal of blood from a donor's body, removal of one or more blood components (such as plasma, platelets, or white blood cells), and transfusion of the remaining blood back into the donor

called also pheresis

Examples of apheresis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This unique process begins with a biopsy of the patient’s tumor and apheresis to extract white blood cells. —William Mullane, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024

Some healthcare providers may use a red blood cell apheresis exchange to get rid of harmful red blood cells using a machine.1011 SCD is a condition that often becomes more severe over time. —Maggie Aime, Msn, Health, 20 Sep. 2024

Patients first have their blood stem cells removed through a process called apheresis; the cells are then shipped off to a company-run manufacturing lab where they are edited. —Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 8 Dec. 2023

Though, as of the 29th of March, several beta thalassemia patients have entered the apheresis process (extraction of cells for modification via gene therapy). —Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 3 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

from -apheresis (as in plasmapheresis)

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

apheresis

noun

aphe·​re·​sis

ˌa-fə-ˈrē-səs

plural aphereses -ˌsēz 

: withdrawal of blood from a donor's body, removal of one or more components (as plasma, blood platelets, or white blood cells) from the blood, and transfusion of the remaining blood back into the donor

called also pheresis

see leukapheresis, plasmapheresis, plateletpheresis