A comparison between two different procedures for bone marrow processing: a semiautomated procedure vs manual starch sedimentation.

After high-dose chemotherapy, autologous cryopreserved bone marrow infusion is employed to restore rapidly the compromised hematopoietic function. An efficient bone marrow processing reduces the infusion toxicity produced by hemolized red cells, granulocytes and platelets clumping and DMSO amount; moreover it increases freezing efficacy, a critical step in autologous bone marrow grafting techniques. Gravity sedimentation technique with 6% hydroxyethyl-starch (HES) or a semiautomated procedure using a blood cell processor were used in our center to manipulate ex-vivo the collected bone marrow. In our experience we compared these two different procedure and we evaluated their efficiency.