The NIH Blood Bank operates a granulocyte donor program through a clinical protocol and collects granulocytes as needed to treat patients with life-threatening infections and severely impaired immune systems.
Granulocytes are a type of white blood cell that fight infection in the human body, especially those caused by bacteria and fungus. Cancer patients, transplant patients and other Clinical Center patients often cannot make enough of their own granulocytes to fight infections during treatment. Granulocytes from donors can be critical to control persistent infections during and after chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, and other treatments.
Granulocytes are donated via apheresis, the procedure by which granulocytes are separated from whole blood, concentrated, and collected. To remove granulocytes a needle is placed in each arm. Blood flows through a needle into a machine that contains a sterile, disposable plastic kit specifically designed for this purpose. The granulocytes are isolated and channeled out into a special bag, and red blood cells and other parts of the blood are returned to you through a needle in the opposite arm. Much like platelet donation, granulocytes donation takes approximately two to three hours.
Donors must meet protocol eligibility requirements to participate.
Learn more about our study, or contact the DTM Granulocyte Donor Coordinator at (301) 451-8610 to enroll.