Apheresis is a word derived from Greek meaning ‘to take away’. During apheresis, patients are connected to an apheresis machine which can separate blood into layers of fluid and cells. This enables the removal of parts of the blood which may be diseases to treat the symptoms of an illness or to allow cells to be collected.

Autologous transplant uses the patient's own stem cells, collected beforehand to replace bone marrow that is not working properly. This is known as an Autologous stem cell transplant.

The Cancer and Blood Disorders Apheresis Unit is located in the Cancer Day Unit on Ground Floor C Block at Gold Coast University Hospital.