Automated Cell Separation Method Enhances Leukemia Patient Care

One of the major complications to occur following allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with malignant disease is relapse of the original disease. The re-emergence of patient cells may cause mixed chimerism in the patient’s bone marrow and blood. Chimerism analysis is usually performed by analysing polymorphic DNA sequences, most commonly by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to determine the origin of cells. In the past, cell separation was achieved manually, which was labour intensive and time consuming. Now, however, a new automated method for cell separation is available.